MLB Trade Rumors2015-08-02T17:53:01Zhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/feed/atomMlbTradeRumorshttps://feedburner.google.comZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=566142015-08-02T17:53:01Z2015-08-02T17:53:01ZContinue reading →]]><p>Agent Scott Boras says the <strong>Marlins</strong> are leaving outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ozunama01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marcell Ozuna</a></strong> at Triple-A New Orleans to potentially delay his arbitration eligibility, <a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2015/07/dolphins-address-evan-mathis-question-examining-multiple-positions-after-day-1-of-camp-heat-roster-m.html" target="_blank">Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald</a> writes. The agent claims that Marlins players are upset about the situation and this “is not what Marlins fans deserve.” The Marlins, meanwhile, deny that Ozuna is being kept in the minors for financial reasons. Here&#8217;s more out of the NL East..</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Phillies</strong> interim manager Pete Mackanin is doubtful that new acquisition <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrima01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Harrison</a></strong> will be on the mound in 2015, <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies_zone/Phillies-doubtful-that-Matt-Harrison-will-pitch-this-season.html" target="_blank">Matt Breen the Philadelphia inquirer</a> writes. &#8220;<em>I said, &#8216;I know you feel bad, but we&#8217;re looking at you for what we&#8217;re about to become rather than this year,&#8217;</em> &#8221; Mackanin said. &#8220;<em>Because, we&#8217;re really not playing for a whole lot this year</em>.&#8221; Harrison came to the Phillies from Texas as part of the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cole Hamels</a></strong> deal last week.</li>
<li>The development of <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=alfaro001jor&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jorge Alfaro</a></strong> could dictate the final verdict on the <strong>Phillies</strong>&#8216; return in the Cole Hamels trade, <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20150802_Inside_the_Phillies__Alfaro_s_bat_could_dictate_future_verdict_of_trade.html" target="_blank">Jake Kaplan of the Philadelphia Inquirer</a> writes. Alfaro, who could miss the rest of this season because of a left-ankle injury suffered June, was labeled “one of the minors’ best catching prospects” recently by <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/insider/post?id=4096" target="_blank">ESPN’s Keith Law</a>.</li>
<li>Several <strong>Marlins</strong> players were not happy about the club&#8217;s trades last week, <a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2015/08/seven-months-into-job-tannenbaum-assesses-where-dolphins-stand-marlins-heat-canes-trump.html" target="_blank">Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald</a> writes. “<em>Can we go home now? Can we go home now? They got rid of everybody</em>,” one prominent player said loudly in Miami&#8217;s clubhouse on Friday, according to Jackson. Other players expressed disappointment privately about the roster moves, he writes.</li>
<li>In order to open up a roster spot for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong>, the <strong>Mets</strong> demoted top prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/confomi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Conforto</a></strong>, as <a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/michael-conforto-sent-to-triple-a-1.10698984" target="_blank">Anthony Rieber of Newsday</a> writes. Conforto previously impressed at Double-A, now he&#8217;ll experience Triple-A for the first time.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=r4exTr3NoP4:D0Tyex1UFDg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>0http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/nl-east-notes-marlins-ozuna-phillies-mets.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=566072015-08-02T16:40:33Z2015-08-02T16:40:33ZContinue reading →]]><p>Minutes ago, <strong>Red Sox</strong> President/CEO Larry Lucchino issued a statement confirming that he will be stepping down at the end of the season. He explained that he has been planning to cut back ever since 2004, the year of Boston&#8217;s first championship. Lucchino thanked Boston ownership and he offered up a strong endorsement for Sam Kennedy, his likely successor.</p>
<p>&#8220;<em>I believe the end of this year is a good time for this change. We would have preferred to announce all of our transition plans at once, including my new role, but I can tell you we all feel strongly that Sam Kennedy, who has been with me for 20 years, should be the next President of the Boston Red Sox. Sam will do a terrific job. He is able, well-prepared, and fiercely dedicated to the Red Sox and to Boston,</em>&#8221; Lucchino said.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s more on the Red Sox..</p>
<ul>
<li>Scott Miller of Bleacher Report (on <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottMillerBbl/status/627631705227067392" target="_blank">Twitter</a>) hears that Lucchino will take some time away and then maybe look for one more run with one more club.</li>
<li>The <strong>Red Sox</strong> didn&#8217;t make a splash at the trade deadline, but they did at least explore making some big moves, <a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/john-tomase/2015/07/31/trade-deadline-takeaways-thinking-big-aroldis-" target="_blank">John Tomase of WEEI.com</a> writes. A source familiar with Boston&#8217;s thinking wouldn&#8217;t name names of potential targets, but he told Tomase said they, &#8220;threw a couple of things out there.&#8221; The Red Sox were in the market for a young frontline starter but, as GM Ben Cherington acknowledged, those don&#8217;t come cheap.</li>
<li>One splashy move to explore would have been trading for Reds closer <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chapmar01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aroldis Chapman</a></strong> and converting him to a starter. However, a source told Tomase that the <strong>Red Sox</strong> did not go down that path.</li>
<li>When the <strong>Red Sox</strong> fielded calls, they got more calls on center fielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bettsmo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mookie Betts</a></strong>, shortstop <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bogaexa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Xander Bogaerts</a></strong>, and catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/swihabl01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Blake Swihart</a></strong> than anyone else, a source told Tomase.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=BzaGt03i6V4:XMZmOmuUF0w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>12http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/red-sox-notes-lucchino-chapman-swihart.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=566112015-08-02T16:33:35Z2015-08-02T16:33:35ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Cubs have designated pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/medinyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yoervis Medina</a></strong> for assignment, according to the <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/#month=8&amp;year=2015" target="_blank">MLB.com transactions page</a>. Medina, who turned 27 last week, came to the Cubs in the May deal sending <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/castiwe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Welington Castillo</a></strong> to the Mariners.</p>
<p>The right-hander has tossed a combined 21 innings for the Cubs and Mariners this season, adding up to a 4.71 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9 in a small sample size. In 20 Triple-A appearances, the hurler has posted a skyhigh 7.03 ERA with 9.2 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9. Medina struggled in Triple-A Iowa and, at this time, doesn&#8217;t seem like a candidate to receive tremendous outside interest.</p>
<p>Earlier today, <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/cubs-designate-taylor-teagarden-for-assignment.html" target="_blank">the Cubs also designated</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/teagata01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Taylor Teagarden</a></strong> for assignment. To keep up with all of the players in DFA limbo, check out the <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/dfatracker" target="_blank">MLBTR DFA Tracker</a>.</p>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=JA3IPYKiMbU:4oaW29owkRQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>0http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/cubs-designate-yoervis-medina-for-assignment.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=566082015-08-02T16:57:47Z2015-08-02T15:08:03ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Cubs announced that they have designated <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/teagata01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Taylor Teagarden</a></strong> for assignment. In a related move, left-handed pitcher <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/richacl01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Clayton Richard</a></strong> has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa.</p>
<p>The 31-year-old Teagarden hit .303/.403/.579 in 211 plate appearances with the Mets’ hitter-friendly Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas last season. This season, he has slashed .294/.375/.437 with four homers in 144 plate appearances for Triple-A Iowa. Teagarden also made 15 plate appearances for the Cubs&#8217; varsity squad this season.</p>
<p>Teagarden now joins a whole host of players in DFA limbo. To keep track of everyone&#8217;s status following a DFA, check out <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/dfatracker" target="_blank">MLBTR&#8217;s DFA Tracker</a>.</p>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=EnRUV5mBt5s:L04_9ERPWl8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>1http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/cubs-designate-taylor-teagarden-for-assignment.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=566052015-08-02T13:58:06Z2015-08-02T13:58:06ZContinue reading →]]><p>Here&#8217;s our post-deadline look around the baseball blogosphere..</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.bluejaysplus.com/troy-tulowitzki-rockies-jays-contract/" target="_blank">Blue Jays Plus</a> says people should stop complaining about <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tulowtr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Troy Tulowitzki</a></strong>&#8216;s deal.</li>
<li><a href="http://bastabayarea.com/2015/07/mike-leake-better-deal-than-hamels/" target="_blank">BASTA</a> is thrilled about the Giants&#8217; acquisition of <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leakemi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Leake</a></strong>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.yankeesunscripted.com/2015/08/yankees-why-dustin-ackley.html" target="_blank">Yankees Unscripted</a> analyzed the Bombers&#8217; trade for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/ackledu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dustin Ackley</a></strong>.</li>
<li><a href="http://camdendepot.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-much-is-that-oriole-in-window.html" target="_blank">Camden Depot</a> evaluated Orioles players before the deadline.</li>
<li><a href="http://swinginas.com/2015/07/30/oakland-athletics-ranking-top-ten-prospects/" target="_blank">Swingin A&#8217;s</a> ranked Oakland&#8217;s prospects after the team&#8217;s deals.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bluejayhunter.com/2015/07/after-landing-david-price-time-is-now-for-blue-jays.html" target="_blank">Blue Jay Hunter</a> reacted to the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/priceda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Price</a></strong> trade.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/7/26/9042383/evaluating-the-cincinnati-reds-newest-prospects-brandon-finnegan-john" target="_blank">Minor League Ball</a> looked at the prospects heading to the Reds in the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cuetojo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Johnny Cueto</a></strong> trade.</li>
<li><a href="http://section215.com/2015/07/30/phillies-get-haul-hamels/" target="_blank">Section 215</a> broke down the return that the Phillies got for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cole Hamels</a></strong>.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.fantasypros.com/2015/07/fantasy-impact-carlos-gomez-mike-fiers-trade" target="_blank">FantasyPros</a> examined the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Gomez</a></strong>/<strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fiersmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Fiers</a></strong> deal.</li>
<li><a href="http://fueledbysports.com/gardner-ellsbury-putting-yankees-offense-motion/" target="_blank">Fueled By Sports</a> is singing the praises of <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gardnbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brett Gardner</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/ellsbja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jacoby Ellsbury</a></strong>.</li>
<li><a href="http://outfieldflyrule.com/2015/07/30/making-sense-of-the-atlanta-braves-trade-deadline-deals/" target="_blank">Outfield Fly Rule</a> tried to make some sense of the Braves&#8217; deals this week.</li>
<li><a href="http://rumbunter.com/2015/07/27/top-five-worst-trades-in-pittsburgh-pirates-history/" target="_blank">Rumbunter</a> ran down the worst deals in Bucs history.</li>
<li><a href="http://knowhitter.com/2015/08/01/detroit-tigers-grading-the-tigers-trade-deadline-trades/" target="_blank">Know Hitter</a> graded the Tigers&#8217; moves.</li>
<li><a href="http://clutchlings.blogspot.ca/2015/08/post-trade-frenzy-thoughts-from.html" target="_blank">Clutchlings</a> ran down the Blue Jays&#8217; farm system after this week&#8217;s trades.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Please send submissions to Zach at ZachBBWI@gmail.com.</em></p>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=50AVS6D56_U:FvCbYLZNTRw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>1http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/baseball-blogs-weigh-in-tulowitzki-leake-yankees.htmlBrad Johnsonhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=566042015-08-02T03:53:15Z2015-08-02T03:53:15ZContinue reading →]]><p>The <strong>Cubs</strong> may pursue <strong>Phillies</strong> second baseman <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/utleych01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chase Utley</a></strong> prior to the August trade deadline, <a href="http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/844213/cubs-considering-chase-utley" target="_blank">writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times</a>. Utley will begin a rehab assignment tomorrow. He would need 251 plate appearances to activate a 2016 option, an exceedingly unlikely event. The former star has struggled this season with a .179/.257/.275 slash. However, a .186 BABIP suggests a rebound is possible. He&#8217;s owed about $5MM over the rest of the season. The Cubs would look to have the Phillies cover part of his salary.</p>
<p>An Utley acquisition would provide depth to existing middle infielders like <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/castrst01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Starlin Castro</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/russead02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Addison Russell</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baezja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Javier Baez</a></strong>. If the club lost patience with Castro, they could opt to use Russell at shortstop with Utley filling in at second base. The interest could also be purely for his veteran leadership. The <strong>Angels</strong> and at least one other team are also considering Utley per Wittenmyer.</p>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=evdbV7KZ5RE:fA3cGL0KpPY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>26http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/cubs-may-pursue-chase-utley.htmlBrad Johnsonhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=566032015-08-02T04:25:40Z2015-08-02T02:49:48ZContinue reading →]]><p>This week&#8217;s complicated three-way trade looks like a great move for the Dodgers, a mixed bag for the Braves, and another deal for the Marlins which appears to be financially motivated, <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/insider/post?id=4195" target="_blank">Keith Law of ESPN.com</a> (Insider sub. req&#8217;d) writes. The Dodgers badly needed another starter given the injuries in their rotation and lack of organizational depth and Law believes that <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mat Latos</a></strong> is probably worth two extra wins to L.A. the rest of the way. Here&#8217;s more out of L.A.</p>
<ul>
<li>The Dodgers are paying $85.75MM for eight players no longer with the organization, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-salary-chart-20150731-story.html" target="_blank">writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times</a>. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=oliver000hec&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hector Olivera</a></strong>&#8216;s $28MM signing bonus is the biggest expenditure on the list. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kempma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Kemp</a></strong> ($18MM) and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harenda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Haren</a></strong> ($10MM) round out of the eight figure commitments.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-payroll-trades-20150801-story.html" target="_blank">In a second piece</a>, Shaikin wonders whether the Dodgers even have a financial limit. GM Farhan Zaidi says yes, then goes on to elaborate that &#8220;<em>nobody has ever mentioned a number to us.</em>&#8221; The Dodgers are projected to pay a record $43MM in luxury taxes this season. It&#8217;s possible that number could increase in August. Zaidi did allude to a time when the Dodgers will field a more typical payroll with the help of cost controlled talent.</li>
<li>Also from Shaikin, the Dodgers are currently paying for 25 percent of the Marlins payroll. The players&#8217; union has taken fresh notice of Miami&#8217;s penchant to deal talent for financial relief.</li>
<li>The Dodgers looked into White Sox starter <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/samarje01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Samardzija</a></strong> &#8220;some time ago,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/BillShaikin/status/627200132753129472" target="_blank">tweets</a> Shaikin. Talks did not progress. After a brutal start to the season, the Pale Hose are just two games below .500 and 3.5 games behind the second Wild Card. Undoubtedly, the surging roster affected their willingness to sell Samardzija.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=X8hIyuSUiS4:ocF5q0JPjQU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>17http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/dodgers-notes-money-olivera-samardzija.htmlBrad Johnsonhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565982015-08-02T01:22:56Z2015-08-02T01:22:56ZContinue reading →]]><p>An elite starting pitcher was a luxury good for the <strong>Dodgers</strong>, <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/los-angeles-dodgers-new-york-mets-toronto-blue-jays-houston-astros-ken-rosenthal-080115?vid=495619651612" target="_blank">writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports</a>. That&#8217;s why Los Angeles passed on talents like <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cole Hamels</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/priceda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Price</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cuetojo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Johnny Cueto</a></strong> despite possessing the prospect depth to acquire their pick of the litter. Instead, the club flexed its financial might to acquire <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mat Latos</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodal02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alex Wood</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsji04.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jim Johnson</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/avilalu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Avilan</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=peraza004jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Peraza</a></strong>. The biggest piece dealt away by the Dodgers was 30-year-old Cuban infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=oliver000hec&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hector Olivera</a></strong>. The utility man has not yet reached the majors after signing a six-year, $62.5MM deal with the Dodgers. A full $28MM of that was in the form of a signing bonus.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s more from Rosenthal:</p>
<ul>
<li>Cynics may find a way to criticize the <strong>Mets</strong> deadline transactions. Perhaps they didn&#8217;t add enough to the payroll or were too small minded? However, the moves for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clippty01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tyler Clippard</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnske05.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kelly Johnson</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uribeju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Juan Uribe</a></strong> provided essential upgrades to a roster that was showing signs of stress. GM Sandy Alderson deserves kudos for improving the club while working within tight constraints. To me, this was Rosenthal&#8217;s money quote, &#8220;<em>Mets fans will not be satisfied &#8211; and should not be satisfied &#8211; until the team raises its payroll to a level more commensurate with the New York market.</em>&#8220;</li>
<li>Echoing the sentiments of many analysts, both the <strong>Phillies</strong> and<strong> Rangers</strong> did well in the Hamels trade. With the Phillies taking on <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrima01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Harrison</a></strong> and chipping in cash, the Rangers will pay Hamels an average of $13MM to $14MM per season if his option vests. They also hung onto top prospects <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gallojo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joey Gallo</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mazara000nom&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nomar Mazara</a></strong>. On Philadelphia&#8217;s end, acquiring three quality prospects will do much to bolster their future.</li>
<li>The<strong> Blue Jays</strong>, unlike the Dodgers, are often described as a cash strapped organization. Instead of taking on payroll like L.A., the Blue Jays dealt 11 prospects and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=reyesjo01,reyesjo02,reyes-021jos,reyes-016jos,reyes-019jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Reyes</a></strong> to acquire <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tulowtr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Troy Tulowitzki</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/priceda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Price</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reverbe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Revere</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lowema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mark Lowe</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hawkila01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LaTroy Hawkins</a></strong>. They&#8217;re 6.5 games back in the AL East and 1.5 games behind the Twins for the second Wild Card slot.</li>
<li>The <strong>Astros</strong> also spent their prospect chips for major league upgrades. They made the first deadline strike by acquiring <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kazmisc01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Scott Kazmir</a></strong> then paid a princely sum for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Gomez</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fiersmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Fiers</a></strong>. Interestingly, mid-market teams like the Astros, Blue Jays, Mets, and <strong>Royals</strong> used prospects in their search for October baseball. The <strong>Yankees</strong> and Dodgers opted to use money or stand pat.</li>
</ul>
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</div>20http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/rosenthals-latest-dodgers-mets-hamels-jays-astros.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565882015-08-02T13:10:47Z2015-08-02T00:15:03ZContinue reading →]]><p>Here are today&#8217;s minor moves from around the league.</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Mets</strong> have signed pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/staufti01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tim Stauffer</a></strong> to a minor league contract, according to the MLB transactions page. Stauffer was released by the Twins earlier this summer and signed with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters in mid-July. He posted a 6.60 ERA in 15 innings with the Twins. Over a 590 inning major league career, he has a 3.94 ERA with 6.73 K/9 and 3.05 BB/9. In his heyday, he worked between 90 and 92 mph. He averaged just 88 mph with his fastball during his stint with Minnesota.</li>
<li>The <strong>Giants</strong> have released pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cordier01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Erik Cordier</a></strong>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hankschulman/status/627614304573878272" target="_blank">tweets</a> Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. MLBTR has learned that Cordier&#8217;s deal included opt out clauses on July 1, August 1, and September 7. The 29-year-old righty performed well in the minors. In 34 Triple-A innings, he posted a 1.04 ERA and 11.16 K/9. However, his command and control left something to be desired with 6.49 BB/9.</li>
<li>The <strong>White Sox </strong>have signed outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vicieda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dayan Viciedo</a></strong> and assigned him to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, the Knights have announced. Viciedo was, of course, a longtime staple of the White Sox outfield, but they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/02/white-sox-request-release-waivers-for-dayan-viciedo.html" target="_blank">released</a> him in February, avoiding paying most of what would have been a $4.4MM arbitration salary. He played briefly this year for Triple-A Nashville in the Athletics system, hitting .221/.282/.336.</li>
<li>The <strong>Red Sox </strong>have outrighted infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weeksje01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jemile Weeks</a></strong> and assigned him to Triple-A Pawtucket, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal <a href="https://twitter.com/TimBritton/status/627512547164487680" target="_blank">tweets</a>. The Red Sox designated Weeks for assignment on Wednesday when they added <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rutlejo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Rutledge</a></strong> to their roster. Weeks has hit .207/.307/.310 in 199 plate appearances for Pawtucket this year.</li>
<li>Former <strong>Yankees </strong>reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rogeres01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Esmil Rogers</a></strong> is headed to Korea, where he&#8217;ll get $1MM to play for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/627547791926161408" target="_blank">tweets</a>. In the midst of yesterday&#8217;s trade deadline madness, MLB.com&#8217;s Bryan Hoch <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanHoch/status/627188888226955264" target="_blank">tweeted</a> that the Yankees had released Rogers. The 29-year-old Rogers posted a 6.27 ERA, 8.5 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 33 innings with New York this season.</li>
</ul>
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</div>5http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/dayan-viciedo-esmil-rogers.htmlBrad Johnsonhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=566012015-08-01T23:58:13Z2015-08-01T23:58:13ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Red Sox will replace president and CEO Larry Lucchino by the end of the season, <a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/clubhouse_insider/2015/08/larry_lucchino_to_leave_role_as_red_sox_ceo" target="_blank">reports Michael Silverman and Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald</a>. Lucchino&#8217;s contract expires at the end of the season. The Red Sox have reportedly been working on a succession plan for some time with rumors of a shake up first reported during spring training.</p>
<p>While executive turnover in baseball can be fraught with drama, it appears that Lucchino and the Red Sox are still on good terms. Chairman Tom Werner spoke about reaching a new agreement with Lucchino, saying &#8220;<em>we are hopeful&#8230;we will conclude an agreement with Larry going forward where he will continue to be an integral part of upper management.</em>&#8221; Werner went on to describe an advisory role.</p>
<p>Lucchino, 70, helped to guide the franchise to three World Series victories since owner John Henry first purchased the club in 2002. He is also known for overseeing the renovation of historic Fenway Park and the acquisition of the Pawtucket Red Sox. He has had a less prominent influence on the team this season in part due to a serious motorcycle accident sustained over the winter.</p>
<p>Executive vice president and COO Sam Kennedy will be promoted to club president. However, unlike Lucchino, Kennedy is not expected to have a role in baseball operations. Kennedy, 42, has worked with Lucchino for 20 years. Per Luchhino, &#8220;<em>he&#8217;s certainly my choice, as well as that of John and Tom, to be promoted to the position of president.</em>&#8221; Kennedy has been slowly taking over Lucchino&#8217;s responsibilities throughout the season.</p>
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</div>22http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/red-sox-president-larry-lucchino-to-be-replaced.htmlBrad Johnsonhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565942015-08-01T22:30:32Z2015-08-01T22:30:32ZContinue reading →]]><p>The <strong>Cubs</strong> aimed high at the trade deadline but ultimately settled for pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harenda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Haren</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hunteto02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tommy Hunter</a></strong>, <a href="http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/842571/theo-cubs-tried-deadline-live-fight-another-day" target="_blank">writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times</a>. According to club president Theo Epstein, &#8220;<em>the two main players we focused on late ended up not getting moved.</em>&#8221; Epstein went on to say that he was aggressive in offering both quality and quantity for top major league talent.</p>
<p>Sources tell Wittenmyer that the two players the Cubs focused upon were pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carraca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Carrasco</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rossty01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tyson Ross</a></strong>. Neither was traded. It was rumored that the <strong>Indians</strong> were merely gather information about Carrasco&#8217;s value while the <strong>Padres</strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/reactions-to-the-padres-decision-not-to-sell.html" target="_blank">have been criticized</a> for not knowing &#8220;<em>what they really wanted</em>.&#8221;</p>
<p>Since signing a four-year, $22MM extension over the offseason, Carrasco has pitched to a 4.03 ERA with 9.90 K/9 and 1.91 BB/9. ERA estimators believe he should be at least a full run better than his ERA, as evidenced by a 2.84 FIP. The 28-year-old also has two affordable option years. It&#8217;s hard to imagine that the Indians don&#8217;t view Carrasco as a building block. However, it is pragmatic to entertain offers at his physical peak.</p>
<p>Ross agreed to a $5.25MM contract in his second year of arbitration. As a Super Two player, he&#8217;ll be eligible for free agency after the 2017 season. Ross has followed up a breakout 2014 with a solid 3.38 ERA, 9.66 K/9, 4.30 BB/9, and a 63 percent ground ball rate.</p>
<p>The Cubs also aggressively shopped shortstop <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/castrst01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Starlin Castro</a></strong>, but they found few takers. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baezja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Javier Baez</a></strong> was one of the players discussed as part of a Carrasco package. Meanwhile, the <strong>Braves</strong> expressed interest in <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/solerjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jorge Soler</a></strong> while discussing <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/teherju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Julio Teheran</a></strong> and other young pitchers. Overall, it&#8217;s clear that high quality, club controlled pitching is a top priority for Chicago.</p>
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</div>29http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/cubs-attempted-to-acquire-carlos-carrasco-tyson-ross.htmlBrad Johnsonhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565952015-08-01T21:29:15Z2015-08-01T21:29:15ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Rockies have designated reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/laffeaa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aaron Laffey</a></strong> for assignment, <a href="https://twitter.com/psaundersdp/status/627587659658084352" target="_blank">tweets</a> Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. The transaction was part of a series of moves that allowed the club to recall <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bergmch01.shtml" target="_blank">Christian Bergman</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/obergsc01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Scott Oberg</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parkeky01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kyle Parker</a></strong>. Pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kendrky01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kyle Kendrick</a></strong> and outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dickeco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Corey Dickerson</a></strong> were placed on the disabled list. The Rockies also designated Laffey on July 11, but he ultimately remained with the team.</p>
<p>The 30-year-old lefty has spent most of the season at the Triple-A level where he&#8217;s compiled a 4.78 ERA, 5.86 K/9, and 4.01 BB/9 in 58 innings. He&#8217;s tossed just seven and one-third innings in three relief appearances in the majors this year. Laffey checks in around 87 mph. He&#8217;s thrown 494 innings over his career with a 4.44 ERA, 4.46 K/9, and 3.62 BB/9.</p>
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</div>2http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/rockies-designate-aaron-laffey.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565902015-08-01T20:58:57Z2015-08-01T20:52:50ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Athletics have announced that they&#8217;ve designated lefty reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/oflaher01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric O&#8217;Flaherty</a></strong> for assignment. The move clears space on the Athletics&#8217; active roster for righty and recent trade acquisition Aaron Brooks, who has been promoted from Nashville to start tonight.</p>
<p>The 30-year-old O&#8217;Flaherty has struggled this season, posting a 5.91 ERA, 6.3 K/9 and 5.9 BB/9 in 21 1/3 innings while dealing with shoulder trouble. He&#8217;s also dealt with elbow and back issues in recent years. The A&#8217;s signed O&#8217;Flaherty to a two-year, $7MM contract before the 2014 season, and his rather expensive $5.5MM 2015 salary and uneven performance likely ensure he won&#8217;t be claimed.</p>
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</div>5http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/athletics-designate-eric-oflaherty.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565822015-08-01T20:45:49Z2015-08-01T20:45:49ZContinue reading →]]><p>The <strong>Blue Jays</strong>&#8216; somewhat surprising decision this morning to designate <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/valenda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Danny Valencia</a></strong> for assignment confused many fans. Valencia has, after all, had a very strong season at the plate, batting .296/.331/.506, and he&#8217;s capable of playing several positions and raking against lefties. As <a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-prioritize-playing-revere-every-day/" target="_blank">Sportsnet.ca&#8217;s Ben Nicholson-Smith explains</a>, manager John Gibbons told GM Alex Anthopoulos that he wanted new acquisition <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reverbe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Revere</a></strong> to play every day rather than platooning, leaving one of Valencia or <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/colabch01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Colabello</a></strong> without much of a role. The Blue Jays ultimately decided to keep Colabello, and Anthopoulos thinks Valencia will be claimed on Monday. The GM suggests the Jays aren&#8217;t done tweaking their roster, so they could make a minor move or two to improve it, perhaps adding an outfielder.</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Red Sox </strong>were relatively quiet at the deadline, but they expect to look quite different by April, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/45796/ben-cherington-sits-tight-at-deadline-but-forecasts-change" target="_blank">Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston writes</a>. &#8220;<em>I think it’s incumbent upon us to make real improvement between now and Opening Day</em>,&#8221; says GM Ben Cherington. &#8220;<em>We didn’t feel like it had to be this week. And so we went into it with the mindset, we’re going to pursue things we think fall in line with ways we need to improve between now and Opening Day</em>.&#8221; Cherington notes that it&#8217;s still possible the Red Sox could make deals in August. Potential trade candidates include <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/napolmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Napoli</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/deazaal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alejandro De Aza</a></strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Mets </strong>repeatedly refused to trade pitching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=fulmer002mic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Fulmer</a></strong>, and were able to acquire <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong> from the <strong>Tigers </strong>only when they finally relented, <a href="http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/07/31/yoenis-cespedes-trade-tigers-mets/30943719/" target="_blank">Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press writes</a>. To Tigers exec Dave Dombrowski, Fulmer was the key to the deal (which also included another solid pitching prospect, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cessa-001lui&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Cessa</a></strong>). &#8220;<em>We consider Fulmer a premium-type guy</em>,&#8221; Dombrowski says.</li>
</ul>
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</div>12http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/east-notes-valencia-red-sox-fulmer.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565852015-08-01T19:36:25Z2015-08-01T19:29:23ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Padres have designated catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/federti01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tim Federowicz</a></strong> for assignment, Corey Brock of MLB.com <a href="https://twitter.com/FollowThePadres/status/627559264287125504" target="_blank">tweets</a>. Federowicz was completing a rehab assignment for a meniscus tear that has cost him the entire season so far. He was out of options, and the Padres evidently decided they were happy with <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/norride01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Derek Norris</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hedgeau01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Austin Hedges</a></strong> at catcher, so as Federowicz approached full health, the Padres were forced to a decision.</p>
<p>Federowicz, 27, has a career .194/.247/.300 line in parts of four big-league seasons, all with the Dodgers. He does, however, have a good defensive reputation. The Dodgers sent him south last December in the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kempma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Kemp</a></strong> / <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grandya01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yasmani Grandal</a></strong> trade.</p>
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</div>2http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/padres-designate-tim-federowicz.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565832015-08-02T17:41:34Z2015-08-01T19:25:34ZContinue reading →]]><p>Athletics pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pomerdr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Drew Pomeranz</a></strong> is changing agents to CAA Sports, Yahoo! Sports&#8217; Jeff Passan <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/627556090461294593" target="_blank">tweets</a>. The 26-year-old Pomeranz will be arbitration eligible for the first time in the coming winter. Pomeranz&#8217;s longtime agent Steve Rath left Beverly Hills Sports Council in July. Rath is now with Ballengee Group.</p>
<p>The lefty currently has a 4.04 ERA, 7.5 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 64 2/3 innings split between starting and relieving. Those numbers are roughly in line with his career numbers in parts of five seasons split between Colorado and Oakland.</p>
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</div>0http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/drew-pomeranz-changes-agents.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565722015-08-01T19:21:04Z2015-08-01T18:59:09ZContinue reading →]]><p>Now that the July 31 trade deadline has passed, teams can still make trades, only with more restrictions than before. Updating <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/08/explaining-august-trades-2.html" target="_blank">Jeff Todd&#8217;s post last year</a> on the topic, here&#8217;s a look at how August trades work. This information has, of course, been shared elsewhere, most notably in an <a href="http://proxy.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&amp;id=1860265" target="_blank">article by ESPN&#8217;s Jayson Stark</a> from all the way back in 2004, and in greater detail at <a href="http://www.thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3528" target="_blank">Cub Reporter</a>. Since the rules surrounding August deals are confusing, though, they&#8217;re worth reviewing here.</p>
<ul>
<li>In August, a big-league player must pass through revocable waivers before his team can trade him without restriction. These waivers last 47 hours. If no one claims him in that period, his team can trade him anywhere.</li>
<li>If a player is claimed, his team can do one of three things. It can trade the player to the claiming team, revoke the waiver request (in which case the player will remain with his original team), or simply allow the claiming team to take the player and his salary (although a player with no-trade rights can block this from happening).</li>
<li>A recent example of an August trade that developed from a waiver claim was the Brewers&#8217; <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/08/brewers-acquire-jonathan-broxton.html" target="_blank">acquisition</a> of <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/broxtjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jonathan Broxton</a></strong> from the Reds last year. The Brewers claimed Broxton and ultimately got him from the Reds for two players to be named later, who turned out to be <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=shacke001kev&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Shackelford</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=astin-000bar&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Barrett Astin</a></strong>. An example of a claim that <em>didn&#8217;t </em>result in a trade occurred last year, when the Cubs <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/08/cubs-awarded-claim-on-cole-hamels.html" target="_blank">claimed</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cole Hamels</a></strong>. The two sides couldn&#8217;t strike a deal, the Phillies revoked their waiver request, and Hamels remained in Philadelphia. Examples of teams simply letting players go via revocable waivers are more rare, but in 2009, the White Sox <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/08/white-sox-acquire-alex-rios.html" target="_blank">claimed</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/riosal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alex Rios</a></strong> from the Blue Jays, who simply let him go to Chicago without a trade. The White Sox were thus responsible for all of the approximately $62MM remaining on Rios&#8217; contract.</li>
<li>A team has 48.5 hours to trade a claimed player, and can only negotiate with the team awarded the claim on him.</li>
<li>It&#8217;s common for teams to place players on revocable waivers, and their having done so does not necessarily mean they have serious plans to trade them. As Stark points out, teams commonly use waivers of certain players purely as smokescreens to disguise which players they really are interested in trading. In fact, sometimes teams place their entire rosters on waivers.</li>
<li>If more than one team claims a player, priority is determined by worst record to best record in the league of the waiving team, followed by worst record to best record in the other league. For example, if an NL team places a player on revocable waivers, the team with the NL&#8217;s worst record will get first priority on claims, followed by every other team in the NL from worst to best, followed by AL teams from worst to best.</li>
<li>If a team pulls a player back from waivers once, it cannot do so again in August. So if a team places a player on waivers for a second time, those waivers will be non-revocable.</li>
<li>Players not on 40-man rosters are eligible to be traded at any time without passing through waivers.</li>
<li>A player on the disabled list cannot pass through waivers.</li>
<li>Teams can still make trades in September, but players acquired after August 31 can&#8217;t play in the postseason.</li>
</ul>
<p>Players traded last August included Broxton, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dunnad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adam Dunn</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/deazaal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alejandro De Aza</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnske05.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kelly Johnson</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sotoge01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Geovany Soto</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beckhgo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gordon Beckham</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willijo03.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Willingham</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/correke01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Correia</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/turneja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jacob Turner</a></strong>. There weren&#8217;t any blockbusters last year, although it&#8217;s not impossible for major deals to happen in August. The Dodgers acquired <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzaad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adrian Gonzalez</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/crawfca02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carl Crawford</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beckejo02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Beckett</a></strong> in a gigantic trade in 2012, for example.</p>
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</div>3http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/how-august-trades-work.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565802015-08-01T18:12:50Z2015-08-01T17:54:48ZContinue reading →]]><p>Angels starter <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsocj01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">C.J. Wilson</a></strong> believes he might be out for the season, MLB.com&#8217;s Alden Gonzalez (<a href="https://twitter.com/Alden_Gonzalez/status/627536650000707589" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Alden_Gonzalez/status/627538362358894592" target="_blank">links</a>). The Angels had previously announced that the results of a recent MRI showed left elbow impingement secondary to arthritis. Wilson says he has bone spurs in his elbow that have expanded. As Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times <a href="https://twitter.com/BillShaikin/status/627538493133074432" target="_blank">tweets</a>, the bone spurs have been an issue for several months, but Wilson is now opting for surgery because of a decreased range of motion and an increased risk of injury to his shoulder.</p>
<p>Wilson <a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/39357198/" target="_blank">had similar surgery</a> following the 2012 season and returned to pitch 212 1/3 good innings in 2013. (He also had surgery for the issue late in 2008.) Still, the news is unfortunate for the Angels. Shaikin <a href="https://twitter.com/BillShaikin/status/627541930545561600" target="_blank">tweets</a> that Wilson informed the Angels before the trade deadline that he would likely need surgery, so they had enough time to make a deal if they wanted to. They did not, however, perhaps figuring that they already had enough depth &#8212; they currently have <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/richaga01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Garrett Richards</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shoemma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Shoemaker</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=santihe01,santia002hec&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hector Santiago</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/heanean01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Andrew Heaney</a></strong> in their rotation, with <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weaveje02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jered Weaver</a></strong> set to return soon from a hip injury.</p>
<p>The 34-year-old Wilson has had an effective season with the Angels, with a 3.89 ERA, 7.5 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in 132 innings. He&#8217;s making $18MM in 2015 and will make $20MM next year before the expiration of the five-year, $77MM deal he signed prior to the 2012 season.</p>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=5qTAQPU1E8A:z9jCvdX5riY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>21http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/c-j-wilson-likely-out-for-season.htmlJeff Toddhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=562752015-08-01T17:10:22Z2015-08-01T17:07:04ZContinue reading →]]><p><strong>AUGUST 1: </strong>The Dodgers are paying just $500K of the remainder of Arroyo&#8217;s deal, Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles <a href="https://twitter.com/markasaxon/status/627524853227110400" target="_blank">tweets</a>. Arroyo is owed about $8MM, including his 2016 buyout, and it appears the Braves are paying almost all of that amount.</p>
<p><strong>JULY 30: </strong>The Dodgers, Marlins and Braves have swung one of the most complex three-team trades in recent history. The &#8220;basic&#8221; structure of the deal (though there&#8217;s nothing basic about this move) is as follows: the Dodgers will receive right-hander <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mat Latos</a></strong> and first baseman <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morsemi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Morse</a></strong> from the Marlins. They&#8217;ll also add top prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=peraza004jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Peraza</a></strong> and pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodal02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alex Wood</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arroybr01.shtml" target="_blank">Bronson Arroyo</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsji04.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jim Johnson</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/avilalu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Avilan</a></strong> from the Braves. Atlanta, in turn, will receive infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=oliver000hec&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hector Olivera</a></strong>, lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodrist02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Paco Rodriguez</a></strong> and minor leaguer <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bird--002zac" target="_blank">Zachary Bird</a></strong> from the Dodgers. The Braves are also picking up Miami&#8217;s Competitive Balance Round A pick in next year&#8217;s draft (No. 35 overall). The Marlins will come out of this deal with three minor league pitchers &#8212; <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=guzman000kev&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Guzman</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=brigha000jef&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Brigham</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=araujo002vic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Victor Araujo</a></strong> &#8212; plus the financial relief of shedding the remaining $14.3MM that is owed to Latos and Morse. Each team has announced the trade&#8217;s completion.</p>
<div id="attachment_55375" style="width: 224px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mat-latos-trade-candidate.html/mlb-washington-nationals-at-miami-marlins-18"><img class="wp-image-55375 size-medium" src="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2015/07/USATSI_8537099-214x300.jpg" alt="&quot;&lt;strong" width="214" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mat Latos</a></strong> is headed to the Dodgers.</p></div>
<p>In making this trade, the Dodgers bolster their rotation not only for the remainder of the 2015 season but also potentially through the 2019 campaign. Latos, who is earning $9.4MM in 2015 and has $3.6MM of that sum remaining on his contract, is a free agent at season&#8217;s end, but Wood can be controlled for four years beyond the current campaign.</p>
<p>While he&#8217;s battled injuries and struggled early in the season, Latos has increased his velocity and upped his results since returning from a DL stint (<a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mat-latos-trade-candidate.html" target="_blank">as noted by MLBTR&#8217;s Steve Adams</a> when examining his trade candidacy). All told, the 27-year-old Latos owns a 4.48 ERA with 8.0 K/9 against 2.5 BB/9 over 88 1/3 innings on the year. But ERA estimators view him more as a mid-3.00 ERA contributor, and that has shown up in his last seven starts, over which he&#8217;s allowed 15 earned runs in 45 2/3 frames with a 43:9 strikeout-to-walk ratio.</p>
<p>Wood is perhaps the more intriguing name here for the Dodgers, though. The 2012 second-round pick was never vaunted as a Top 100 prospect, but he&#8217;s emerged as a reliable cog in the Braves&#8217; rotation over the past few seasons. Though many have expressed long-term health concerns with Wood and his numbers are down in 2015, his overall body of work is nonetheless impressive. Wood has a lifetime 3.10 ERA in 368 2/3 big league innings with very strong averages of 8.2 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 to go along with a 46.5 percent ground-ball rate. Both Latos and Wood will join co-aces <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kershcl01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Clayton Kershaw</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/greinza01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Zack Greinke</a></strong> in the Dodgers&#8217; rotation, solidifying the starting five down the stretch. Those additions, however, demonstrate a different approach than many pundits expected, as L.A. was heavily rumored to be involved with the top names on the trade market.</p>
<div id="attachment_56347" style="width: 209px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?attachment_id=56347"><img class="wp-image-56347 size-medium" src="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2015/07/USATSI_8569321-199x300.jpg" alt="&quot;&lt;strong" width="199" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodal02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alex Wood</a></strong> could be a long-term rotation piece for L.A.</p></div>
<p>In landing Johnson, the Dodgers are picking up a reliever that was serving as Atlanta&#8217;s closer and doing so quite well. Johnson led the AL in saves from 2012-13 before a down season in 2014. Atlanta snatched him up on a one-year, $1.6MM contract with enough incentives to carry the deal to $2.5MM if he maxes it out. He&#8217;s been an outstanding buy-low piece for the Braves and will carry a 2.25 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 2.6 BB/9 and 60.8 percent ground-ball rate into the Dodger bullpen, where he&#8217;ll help set up for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/janseke01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kenley Jansen</a></strong>.</p>
<p>The 26-year-old Avilan gives the Dodgers another left-handed relief option to pair with <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/howeljp01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">J.P. Howell</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thomaia01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ian Thomas</a></strong>, though it&#8217;s debatable whether he&#8217;s a long-term improvement over Rodriguez, who heads to Atlanta in the deal. Avilan has a 3.58 ERA on the season with a 31-to-10 K/BB ratio (though two of the walks were intentional) in 37 2/3 innings. He&#8217;s upped his velocity this season and his strikeout rate as well, but Avilan&#8217;s previous good fortune in terms of homer-to-flyball ratio has dried up this season, and he&#8217;s near the league average (above it, in fact) in that regard for the first time in his career. Avilan hasn&#8217;t missed a ton of bats throughout his career but does have strong overall totals against left-handed hitters.</p>
<p>Morse doesn&#8217;t really fit on the Dodgers&#8217; roster and was likely included as a means of offsetting some salary, so it&#8217;s possible his stay with the Dodgers will be brief, at best. Los Angeles designated <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stulter01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric Stults</a></strong> for assignment immediately upon acquiring him from the Braves earlier this year and did so with <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/webbry01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ryan Webb</a></strong> as well, so there&#8217;s certainly precedent for them to flex their financial muscle as a procedural necessity and simply cut ties with the unwanted or superfluous players in a deal.</p>
<p>Arroyo serves as a second example of the Dodgers flexing their financial muscle. The veteran right-hander signed a two-year deal with the D-Backs prior to the 2014 season but underwent Tommy John surgery last summer and hasn&#8217;t pitched this season. Arizona unloaded his contract in a prior trade with the Braves, and that money will now go to the Dodgers, bringing the total amount of cash they&#8217;re eating in this deal to roughly $43.5MM. It&#8217;s possible, at least, that Arroyo could pitch at the back of the L.A. rotation down the stretch.</p>
<p>Dealing Peraza away was probably a tough pill to swallow for the Braves, who have long lauded him as one of their top prospects. The 21-year-old entered the season as a consensus Top 50 prospect in the game, and though his offensive numbers are down somewhat, that&#8217;s not necessarily a red flag for someone playing at the minors&#8217; top level at the age of 21. That&#8217;s not to say, of course, that Peraza&#8217;s numbers are poor; he&#8217;s hitting .295/.319/.380 this season. Peraza ranks as the game&#8217;s No. 26 prospect on the <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/midseason-top-50-prospects2015/" target="_blank">midseason Top 50 from Baseball America</a> and No. 30 <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=prospects" target="_blank">on MLB.com&#8217;s midseason update</a> to their own Top 100 prospect list. Peraza began his career as a shortstop and eventually moved to second base, but it&#8217;s not certain where the Dodgers project him in the future. He has little power but draws rave reviews for his speed and glove, and he&#8217;s swiped 149 bases over his past 310 minor league contests. I feel it should be noted that Peraza, too, could be a piece that the Dodgers will consider dealing, as they&#8217;re reportedly reluctant to part with their own top prospects: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=seager001cor&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Corey Seager</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=urias-000jul&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Julio Urias</a></strong>.</p>
<p>As for the Braves, they&#8217;ll finally land a player they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/03/braves-in-ongoing-discussions-with-hector-olivera.html" target="_blank">pursued extensively</a> this offseason in the form of Olivera. Atlanta simply couldn&#8217;t match the Dodgers&#8217; enormous $62.5MM offer to the 30-year-old infielder, but $28MM of that came in the form of a signing bonus that is to be paid in three installments. The Dodgers will pay the final two installments of Olivera&#8217;s signing bonus, <a href="https://twitter.com/DOBrienAJC/status/626713065854140416" target="_blank">tweets</a> David O&#8217;Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. That means the Braves are essentially taking on Olivera on a six-year, $32.5MM contract that began this season. He&#8217;s earning $2MM in 2015, of which about $754K remains, so their total financial commitment to him will be about $31.25MM over the course of five and a half years. That&#8217;s a much more palatable obligation for the Braves (who have notably shed significant payroll from their books by moving <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Melvin Upton Jr.</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kimbrcr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Craig Kimbrel</a></strong> since Olivera signed.)</p>
<p>Olivera, a right-handed hitting third baseman/second baseman, was said at the time he signed to be a safe bet to post strong average and OBP marks due to his pure hitting abilities and a keen eye at the plate. The question was how much power he&#8217;d show in the Majors, but some felt that he could be a 20-homer bat on a yearly basis. He&#8217;s looked sharp to this point in the minors, hitting .348/.392/.493 across three levels and reaching Triple-A. The Braves undoubtedly consider him to be a major component of their long-term future in the infield, though the specific position he&#8217;ll play is yet an unknown.</p>
<p>In Rodriguez, they&#8217;ll pick up a left-handed reliever who could be out for the season but has pitched well when healthy. <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/06/paco-rodriguez-to-have-elbow-surgery.html" target="_blank">Rodriguez had surgery</a> to remove loose bodies from his elbow in late June &#8212; a procedure that will sideline him for eight to 10 weeks. However, the former second-round pick has been excellent while on the mound. He was the first player from the 2012 draft to reach the Majors, debuting the same year he was drafted, and he sports a lifetime 2.53 ERA with 9.6 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9.</p>
<p>The 21-year-old Bird has largely unimpressive numbers in the minors &#8212; a 4.74 ERA in 351 minor league innings &#8212; but <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=la" target="_blank">MLB.com rated him 15th</a> among L.A. farmhands. Per their scouting report, he made big strides with his velocity late in 2014 and has gone from a low-90s heater to a mid-90s offering that &#8220;threatens triple digits&#8221; at times. He still needs to get a better feel for his offspeed pitches and has a long ways to go as a slider, they add.</p>
<p>With all that said, we&#8217;re at last to the Marlins&#8217; portion of the trade, which looks meager. Of the three names in question, only Brigham ranks among L.A.&#8217;s top 30 prospects, per MLB.com, who rank him 28th. Brigham had Tommy John surgery in college in 2012 and missed all of 2013 before pitching himself into the fourth round, their scouting report notes. He&#8217;s 90-94 mph with his fastball and has shown shaky control, though some of that can be attributed to the surgery. He&#8217;s punched out 75 hitters in 75 innings this year but has also walked 38 and has a 5.52 ERA.</p>
<p>Guzman is a 20-year-old starter pitching at the Class A level who has notched a 3.90 ERA with 6.7 K/9 against 3.1 BB/9 in 83 innings this year. The 22-year-old Araujo is in his second stint with Class-A Advanced and hasn&#8217;t found very favorable results. He&#8217;s missed plenty of bats (55 strikeouts in 50 innings) with solid control (14 walks) but has been hittable and ultimately surrendered a 5.40 ERA this season.</p>
<p>The Marlins had a number of ways they could go in terms of dealing Latos, but it seems they either prioritized shedding the Morse contract or simply didn&#8217;t find that teams were willing to offer much in return given his rental status, health concerns and early struggles. In the end, while this trade started off being termed the &#8220;Mat Latos trade,&#8221; it will be more remembered as a deal that netted the Braves their second baseman or third baseman of the future in exchange for a promising young arm and one of their top prospects.</p>
<p><em>Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reported (<a href="https://twitter.com/GDubCub/status/626411683179851776" target="_blank">on Twitter</a>) that Latos and Morse were headed to the Dodgers. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (<a href="https://twitter.com/clarkspencer/status/626414414615318528" target="_blank">Twitter</a> link) and MLB.com&#8217;s Joe Frisaro (<a href="https://twitter.com/JoeFrisaro/status/626414951964409856" target="_blank">Twitter link</a>) reported the financial components for Miami/L.A. and the inclusion of the Marlins&#8217; draft pick. Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM <a href="https://twitter.com/JimBowden_ESPN/status/626476235615535104" target="_blank">tweeted</a> that a third team was potentially being brought in. Frisaro <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeFrisaro/status/626578818019540992" target="_blank">reported</a> the prospects going to Miami. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported the Braves&#8217; inclusion (<a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/626545465413210112" target="_blank">via Twitter</a>). Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Braves would get a young starter (<a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/626550127658946560" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/626548075834834945" target="_blank">links</a>), and Rosenthal <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/626554095365672962" target="_blank">tweeted</a> that Wood was the pitcher in question. Bowden <a href="https://twitter.com/JimBowden_ESPN/status/626554504989818880" target="_blank">tweeted</a> Johnson&#8217;s inclusion. MLB.com&#8217;s Mark Bowman first suggested Peraza&#8217;s name (<a href="https://twitter.com/mlbbowman/status/626555698583863296" target="_blank">on Twitter</a>) and Sherman confirmed his inclusion (<a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/626556235177951232" target="_blank">via Twitter</a>). Bowman also <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbbowman/status/626557634066411520" target="_blank">tweeted</a> that Olivera was in the deal, and Bowden <a href="https://twitter.com/JimBowden_ESPN/status/626558956895367168" target="_blank">tweeted</a> that Avilan was as well. Yahoo&#8217;s Jeff Passan <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/626568766088978433" target="_blank">tweeted</a> that Bird was headed to Atlanta. Bowman <a href="http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/139621142/braves-involved-in-trade-to-get-hector-olivera" target="_blank">added</a> that Rodriguez was going to the Braves. Passan added the final wrinkle: Arroyo&#8217;s inclusion (<a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/626817810795069440" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/626818892761968642" target="_blank">links</a>).</em></p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.</em></p>
<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=4N9KgvLGl2c:FmRtDIDbmAQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>408http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/dodgers-nearing-deal-to-acquire-mat-latos-michael-morse.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565762015-08-01T16:33:03Z2015-08-01T16:33:03ZContinue reading →]]><p>Here&#8217;s a roundup of recaps from yesterday&#8217;s trade deadline.</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Blue Jays </strong>and <strong>Royals </strong>are the biggest winners of last month&#8217;s trades, while the <strong>Padres </strong>are the biggest losers, <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/25256176/mlb-trade-deadline-winners-and-losers-mets-blue-jays-royals-do-well" target="_blank">CBS Sports&#8217; Jon Heyman writes</a>. All three choices were probably fairly easy ones, with the Blue Jays landing <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tulowtr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Troy Tulowitzki</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/priceda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Price</a></strong>, the Royals grabbing <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cuetojo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Johnny Cueto</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zobribe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Zobrist</a></strong>, and the Padres mostly standing pat. Further down both lists is where things get interesting, though &#8212; Heyman notes that the <strong>Phillies </strong>and<strong> Athletics </strong>did well in their trades of veterans, and that the <strong>Dodgers </strong>should have done better than <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mat Latos</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodal02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alex Wood</a></strong> for all the payroll they&#8217;re taking on.</li>
<li>The <strong>Astros</strong>, Royals, Phillies and <strong>Tigers</strong>, among other teams, deserve credit for their deadline deals, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlb-trade-deadline--the-winners-and-losers-235554249.html" target="_blank">Yahoo! Sports&#8217; Jeff Passan writes</a>. The Padres, meanwhile, did poorly. To expect the Padres to make the playoffs at this point &#8220;<em>borders on lunacy</em>,&#8221; Passan writes.</li>
<li>Nine of the top 100 prospects in baseball changed teams at the deadline, <a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/140155822/jim-callis-ranking-the-best-traded-prospects" target="_blank">MLB.com&#8217;s Jim Callis writes</a>. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/norrida01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Daniel Norris</a></strong> (headed from the Blue Jays to the Tigers in the David Price trade) tops the list followed by <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=philli000bre&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brett Phillips</a></strong> (from the Astros to the Brewers in the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Gomez</a></strong> deal) and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=peraza004jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Peraza</a></strong> (who went from the Braves to the Dodgers in the Mat Latos deal). Callis&#8217; take on the Dodgers&#8217; 13-player trade is quite different from Heyman&#8217;s &#8212; Callis writes that the Dodgers got plenty of big-league help in the deal while also getting a very impressive prospect in Peraza.</li>
<li>Prospects among MLB&#8217;s top 50 include Norris, Phillips, Peraza, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=oliver000hec&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hector Olivera</a></strong> (who went from the Dodgers to the Braves), <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hoffma002jef&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Hoffman</a></strong> (Blue Jays to Rockies in the Troy Tulowitzki deal) and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=thomps000jak,thomps003jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Thompson</a></strong> (Rangers to Phillies in the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cole Hamels</a></strong> deal), <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/ranking-prospects-traded-deadline/" target="_blank">J.J. Cooper of Baseball America writes</a>.</li>
</ul>
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</div>46http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/deadline-reactions-winners-losers-top-prospects.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565752015-08-01T15:58:05Z2015-08-01T15:58:05ZContinue reading →]]><p>The <strong>Mets</strong> did well with their series of trades before yesterday&#8217;s deadline, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/107817/analysis-mets-and-their-fans-big-winners-with-three-late-july-trades" target="_blank">ESPN New York&#8217;s Adam Rubin writes</a>. The addition of <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong> significantly improves the Mets&#8217; offense, and while the Mets did give up a fair amount of pitching talent (particularly <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=fulmer002mic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Fulmer</a></strong>), they have plenty of good young starting pitching and were trading from depth. Here are more quick notes from the NL East.</p>
<ul>
<li>After the collapse of their trade for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Gomez</a></strong>, Friday couldn&#8217;t have worked out better for Sandy Alderson and the Mets, <a href="http://www.newsday.com/sports/sandy-alderson-does-great-job-with-last-minute-trade-for-yoenis-cespedes-1.10697148" target="_blank">David Lennon of Newsday writes</a>. Not making a deal could have resulted in a &#8220;<em>public relations catastrophe</em>,&#8221; which the Mets avoided by turning their attention to <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bruceja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jay Bruce</a></strong> and then to Cespedes, finally making a trade right before the deadline.</li>
<li>In Philadelphia, meanwhile, <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20150802_Did_Amaro_just_save_his_job_.html" target="_blank">Mike Sielski of the Inquirer wonders</a> whether Ruben Amaro might have saved his job with his performance in the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cole Hamels</a></strong> trade. The <strong>Phillies</strong> got three top prospects in <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=willia005nic,willia006nic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Williams</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=thomps000jak,thomps003jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Thompson</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=alfaro001jor&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jorge Alfaro</a></strong> as part of their return for their ace. &#8220;<em>In this day and age, teams are much more willing to dole out money than they are prospects</em>,&#8221; says Amaro. &#8220;<em>The value of the prospects has increased dramatically. I&#8217;ve had to make a personal adjustment on that, to understand that a bit better and make the adjustment there. I think we did that with this deal</em>.&#8221; Sielski writes that it was also striking that Amaro was the one speaking to the media, and Pat Gillick and Andy MacPhail weren&#8217;t present.</li>
<li>One player who wasn&#8217;t traded yesterday was <strong>Braves </strong>outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomesjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jonny Gomes</a></strong>, and he wants to remain in Atlanta, <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-gomes-not-traded-says-he-wants-to-stay/nnBFx/?ecmp=ajc_social_twitter_2014_braves_sfp" target="_blank">David O&#8217;Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution writes</a>. Gomes also isn&#8217;t ruling out that the Braves can contend this year, even after trading a number of players (including <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uribeju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Juan Uribe</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnske05.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kelly Johnson</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodal02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alex Wood</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/avilalu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Avilan</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsji04.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jim Johnson</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arroybr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bronson Arroyo</a></strong>) near the deadline. &#8220;<em>In 2012, Oakland A’s were 14 1/2 games back in mid-August, and we were in first place for the last four innings of the season</em>,&#8221; says Gomes. &#8220;<em>[I]ndividual accountability, how we’ve got to play the game — that doesn’t change</em>.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
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</div>17http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/nl-east-notes-mets-amaro-braves.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565732015-08-01T14:41:12Z2015-08-01T14:14:16ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Blue Jays have designated 3B/OF <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/valenda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Danny Valencia</a></strong> and outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carreez01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ezequiel Carrera</a></strong> for assignment, Scott MacArthur of TSN <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottyMacThinks/status/627480253733163008" target="_blank">tweets</a>. The Jays also recalled middle infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kawasmu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Munenori Kawasaki</a></strong> and optioned righty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/teperry01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ryan Tepera</a></strong>. The moves were likely made so that the team could add newcomers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reverbe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Revere</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lowema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mark Lowe</a></strong> to their active roster, although those moves haven&#8217;t yet been announced.</p>
<p>Valencia, 30, is in the midst of a strong offensive season, hitting .296/.331/.506 in 173 plate appearances. With <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/travide01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Devon Travis</a></strong> on the DL, though, the Jays were short in the middle infield, so Kawasaki will join the team instead. It&#8217;s still a bit surprising that the Jays would designate Valencia, however, given that the addition of Lowe will leave them with 13 pitchers on their staff. Valencia is making just $1.68MM this year, and he could become an attractive target in a trade or on the waiver wire, given his strong hitting this season (even if it&#8217;s somewhat out of character) and his ability to hit lefties and play third base, first base and outfield. He has also appeared in three games at second for the Jays this year. Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos says he expects Valencia will be claimed, as Sportsnet.ca&#8217;s Ben Nicholson-Smith <a href="https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/627487747180068864" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</p>
<p>Carerra, 28, was batting .279/.327/.374 in 164 plate appearances this year. He became somewhat superfluous, however, with the Jays&#8217; trade for fellow lefty hitter Revere. Carrera is a career .259/.311/.349 hitter in parts of five seasons also spent with the Indians, Phillies and Tigers.</p>
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</div>21http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/blue-jays-designate-danny-valencia-ezequiel-carerra.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565702015-08-01T13:50:22Z2015-08-01T13:41:06ZContinue reading →]]><p>Despite being 50-53 and an afterthought in the playoff race, the Padres surprisingly opted not to sell at the trade deadline yesterday. Here more on what they did, or didn&#8217;t do.</p>
<ul>
<li>One of the most discussed aspects of the Padres&#8217; decision not to sell was that they asked the Diamondbacks for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/goldspa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Paul Goldschmidt</a></strong> in return for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kimbrcr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Craig Kimbrel</a></strong>, as <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2015/07/31/diamondbacks-gm-dave-stewart-padres-asked-paul-goldschmidt-trade/30978001/" target="_blank">Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes</a>. D-backs GM mentioned the Goldschmidt discussion on KTAR-AM and clarified it later. The Diamondbacks, of course, couldn&#8217;t reject the deal fast enough. &#8220;<em>[W]e don&#8217;t talk about Goldy in any deals and no team has approached me in the almost year that I&#8217;ve been here about Goldy, so I was kind of shocked to hear that</em>,&#8221; said Stewart. &#8220;<em>Like I said, I don&#8217;t know if there was sincerity in it, but, yeah, the name did come up</em>.&#8221; Piecoro notes that the Padres deny the request was serious, and it surely wasn&#8217;t. As FanGraphs&#8217; Kiley McDaniel <a href="https://twitter.com/kileymcd/status/627240109402927105" target="_blank">tweeted</a> yesterday, it&#8217;s not uncommon for GMs to make wild offers. What <em>is </em>perhaps uncommon is for other GMs to reveal them. What the Goldschmidt discussion might suggest, though, is that the Padres were not particularly interested in trading Kimbrel.</li>
<li>There are a number of hypotheses as to why A.J. Preller and the Padres decided not to sell, as <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13356150/why-san-diego-padres-sell-trade-deadline" target="_blank">ESPN&#8217;s Jayson Stark writes</a>. &#8220;<em>They never knew what they really wanted</em>,&#8221; says a rival executive. It would take a brilliant stretch run for the Padres to make the playoffs, and they&#8217;ll be in a tough spot &#8212; they won&#8217;t have gotten anything (except a draft pick) for free agents like <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Justin Upton</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kenneia01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ian Kennedy</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/venabwi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Will Venable</a></strong>, and they&#8217;ll still be on the hook for Kimbrel, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shielja02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">James Shields</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kempma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Kemp</a> </strong>and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml" target="_blank">Melvin Upton</a></strong>, who will be so expensive collectively that they might have trouble making other moves to get better. They&#8217;re putting themselves in a difficult position, and Stark writes that the other teams are mystified by what they&#8217;re doing.</li>
<li>The Yankees were willing to give up shortstop prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mateo-000jor&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jorge Mateo</a></strong> and to take on at least part of the <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gyorkje01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jedd Gyorko</a></strong> contract in order to acquire Kimbrel, but the Padres declined, CBS Sports&#8217; Jon Heyman <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/627213285033705472" target="_blank">tweets</a>. Gyorko is in the midst of a second consecutive disappointing season and has $33MM remaining on his contract beyond 2015, so such a move would likely have helped position the Padres for the future. Mateo, meanwhile, ranks third on <a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=nyy" target="_blank">MLB.com&#8217;s list</a> of the Yankees&#8217; top prospects, earning praise for his outstanding speed in particular. He has a ridiculous 70 stolen bases and a .271/.341/.379 line at Class A Charleston this season.</li>
<li>It might also been seen as strange that, given the Padres&#8217; decision not to sell, they also didn&#8217;t really buy, as <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/jul/31/padres-preller-surprise-no-deals-trade-deadline/" target="_blank">Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune points out</a>. They only added Indians reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rzepcma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marc Rzepczynski</a></strong>. &#8220;<em>You have a lot of teams that are in the hunt</em>,&#8221; says Preller. &#8220;<em>That makes it harder for teams to really look at moving a lot of their pieces, because I think a lot of people, rightfully so, think they’re in contention</em>.&#8221; One might think, though, that such conditions might make the more obvious route of selling even more attractive. &#8220;<em>We were working through all different scenarios to try to add the club and other scenarios in which other teams were asking about our guys</em>,&#8221; says Preller. &#8220;<em>Ultimately, we didn’t feel like we got the value that we wanted to get to</em>.&#8221;</li>
<li>Unsurprisingly, Padres players and management seem excited the team didn&#8217;t move any of its top players, as <a href="http://m.padres.mlb.com/news/article/140137060" target="_blank">MLB.com&#8217;s Corey Brock reports</a>. &#8220;<em>It&#8217;s a relief</em>,&#8221; says Justin Upton. &#8220;<em>I think just the sense around the clubhouse is that this front office wants this group, so we&#8217;re going to do everything in our power to make sure that they didn&#8217;t make the wrong decision</em>.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
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</div>76http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/08/reactions-to-the-padres-decision-not-to-sell.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565602015-08-01T12:57:55Z2015-08-01T03:42:22ZContinue reading →]]><p>In the days leading up to the trade deadline, the Phillies <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/reactions-to-the-cole-hamels-trade.html" target="_blank">finally traded</a> ace <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cole Hamels</a></strong>, sending him with <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/diekmja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Diekman</a></strong> and cash to Texas for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrima01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Harrison</a></strong>, top catching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=alfaro001jor&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jorge Alfaro</a></strong>, outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=willia006nic,willia005nic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Williams</a></strong>, and young pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=thomps000jak,thomps003jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Thompson</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=asher-001ale&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alec Asher</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=eickho001jer&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jerad Eickhoff</a></strong>. Here&#8217;s a roundup of reactions to one of the week&#8217;s biggest deals.</p>
<ul>
<li>The Giants<strong> </strong>came very close to acquring Hamels &#8212; so close, in fact, that Hamels waived his no-trade rights to allow the Phillies to trade him to San Francisco, as Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe <a href="https://twitter.com/nickcafardo/status/626790251474878464" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li>The Phillies got a strong return for Hamels, <a href="http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/quality-and-quantity-phils-return-cole-hamels-looks-solid-jorge-alfaro-nick-williams" target="_blank">Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com writes</a>. Alfaro looks like the key to the deal for Philadelphia, but the Phillies also got interesting pieces in Thompson and Williams, and they actually can use Harrison as well, even though he&#8217;s in the deal partially to offset Hamels&#8217; salary.</li>
<li>Philadelphia got &#8220;<em>quantity and quality</em>&#8221; in the Hamels trade, says MLB.com&#8217;s Jim Callis (<a href="http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/26271672/v311611683/phils-acquire-five-exceptional-prospects-for-hamels" target="_blank">video link</a>). Callis says Thompson&#8217;s slider is, at its best, one of the top sliders in the minors, and Williams has great bat speed and has dramatically improved his plate discipline. Alfaro needs to improve his polish in some areas, but he has terrific tools, including his arm strength.</li>
<li>The Phillies could continue trading in August, <a href="http://m.phillies.mlb.com/news/article/140141692/phillies-could-still-make-trades-in-august" target="_blank">MLB.com&#8217;s Todd Zolecki writes</a>. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/utleych01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chase Utley</a></strong> could be a candidate to be dealt, assuming his injured ankle heals and he waives his no-trade privileges. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/haranaa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aaron Harang</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francje02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Francoeur</a></strong> are possibilities as well.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=x1wtdM4wuBU:u2vfu5h1DJs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>25http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/reactions-to-the-cole-hamels-trade.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565682015-08-01T03:04:48Z2015-08-01T03:04:48ZContinue reading →]]><p>Here&#8217;s how the NL West fared in the days leading to the trade deadline this afternoon.</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Rockies </strong>only really made one move, but it was a big one &#8212; they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/blue-jays-to-acquire-troy-tulowitzki.html" target="_blank">traded</a> star shortstop <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tulowtr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Troy Tulowitzki</a></strong> and reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hawkila01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LaTroy Hawkins</a></strong> to the Blue Jays for shortstop <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=reyesjo01,reyesjo02,reyes-016jos,reyes-019jos,reyes-021jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Reyes</a></strong> and pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hoffma002jef&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Hoffman</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/castrmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Miguel Castro</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tinoco000jes&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jesus Tinoco</a></strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Dodgers </strong><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/dodgers-nearing-deal-to-acquire-mat-latos-michael-morse.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mat Latos</a></strong>, 1B/OF <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morsemi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Morse</a></strong>, infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=peraza004jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Peraza</a></strong>, and pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodal02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alex Wood</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/avilalu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Avilan</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsji04.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jim Johnson</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arroybr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bronson Arroyo</a></strong> in a complex 13-player deal with the Braves and Marlins. As part of the deal, they sent infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=oliver000hec&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hector Olivera</a></strong> and pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodrist02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Paco Rodriguez</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bird--002zac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Zachary Bird</a></strong> to Atlanta, also sending pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=guzman000kev&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Guzman</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=brigha000jef&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Brigham</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=araujo002vic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Victor Araujo</a></strong> to Miami. They then <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/dodgers-designate-morse-beachy-heisey-tsao-for-assignment.html" target="_blank">designated</a> Morse, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beachbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brandon Beachy</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/heisech01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Heisey</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tsaoch01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chin-hui Tsao</a></strong> for assignment, and <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-dodgers-swap-jose-tabata-michael-morse.html" target="_blank">shipped</a> Morse and cash to the Pirates for outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tabatjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Tabata</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">lost</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guilmpr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Preston Guilmet</a></strong> via a waiver claim.</li>
<li>The <strong>Giants </strong><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mike-leake-traded-giants-reds.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> veteran righty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leakemi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Leake</a></strong> from the Reds for pitching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mella-000keu&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Keury Mella</a></strong> and infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/duvalad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adam Duvall</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/jean-machi-red-sox-claim.html" target="_blank">lost</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/machije01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jean Machi</a></strong> via a waiver claim and <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/giants-designate-joaquin-arias.html" target="_blank">designated</a> infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/ariasjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joaquin Arias</a></strong> for assignment.</li>
<li>Despite their 50-53 record, the <strong>Padres </strong>declined to sell at the deadline, instead <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/padres-to-acquire-marc-rzepczynski-from-indians.html" target="_blank">acquiring</a> reliever Marc Rzepcyznski from the Indians for outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/almonab01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Abraham Almonte</a></strong> and doing little else.</li>
<li>The <strong>Diamondbacks</strong>, too, were very quiet at the deadline, though they were connected in trade rumors to Reds closer <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chapmar01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aroldis Chapman</a></strong>, who remains in Cincinnati. In a minor move, the the D-backs <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-72915.html" target="_blank">traded</a> pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirjc01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">J.C. Ramirez</a></strong> to the Mariners.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=JqZOplGW3Vg:qwqUtwxTEeA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>3http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/trade-deadline-roundup-nl-west.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565672015-08-01T02:21:29Z2015-08-01T02:21:29ZContinue reading →]]><p>Here&#8217;s what happened in the NL Central in the week leading to the trade deadline this afternoon.</p>
<ul>
<li>As expected, the last-place <strong>Brewers </strong>were very active as sellers. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/carlos-gomez-astros-trade-fiers.html" target="_blank">sent</a> star center fielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Gomez</a></strong>, starting pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fiersmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Fiers</a></strong> and international bonus spending rights to Houston for outfielders <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santado01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Domingo Santana</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=philli000bre&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brett Phillips</a></strong>, along with pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=houser000adr&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adrian Houser</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hader-000jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Hader</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/orioles-to-acquire-gerardo-parra.html" target="_blank">shipped</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parrage01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gerardo Parra</a></strong> to the Orioles for pitching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=davies000zac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Zach Davies</a></strong>, and they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cardinals-to-acquire-jonathan-broxton.html" target="_blank">sent</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/broxtjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jonathan Broxton</a></strong> and cash to the Cardinals for outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=collym000mal&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Malik Collymore</a></strong>. Last week, they dealt veteran third baseman <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirar01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aramis Ramirez</a></strong> and cash to the Pirates for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=barrio001jon&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yhonathan Barrios</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">claimed</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guilmpr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Preston Guilmet</a></strong> from the Dodgers.</li>
<li>The <strong>Reds </strong>also sold, trading starting pitchers in two high-profile deals. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/royals-to-acquire-johnny-cueto.html" target="_blank">sent</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cuetojo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Johnny Cueto</a></strong> to the Royals, getting lefties <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/finnebr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brandon Finnegan</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lambja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Lamb</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=reed--002cod" target="_blank">Cody Reed</a></strong> in return. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mike-leake-traded-giants-reds.html" target="_blank">shipped</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leakemi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Leake</a></strong> to the Giants for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mella-000keu&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Keury Mella</a></strong> and infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/duvalad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adam Duvall</a></strong>. Finally, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-72915.html" target="_blank">outrighted</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dominch01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Dominguez</a></strong>.</li>
<li>The first-place <strong>Cardinals </strong>addressed their bullpen by getting Broxton in the aforementioned trade with Milwaukee, and by <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cardinals-steve-cishek-deal-nearing.html" target="_blank">acquiring</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cishest01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Steve Cishek</a></strong> from the Marlins for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=barrac000kyl&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kyle Barraclough</a></strong>. They also acquired 1B/OF <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mossbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brandon Moss</a></strong> from the Indians for pitching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=kamins000rob&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rob Kaminsky</a></strong>, and they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cardinals-designate-dan-johnson.html" target="_blank">designated</a> first baseman <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsda06.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Johnson</a></strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">and</a> pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hatlema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marcus Hatley</a></strong> for assignment.</li>
<li>The <strong>Pirates </strong>received Ramirez in the aforementioned trade with the Brewers to shore up an injury-ravaged infield. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-acquire-j-a-happ.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> lefty starter <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">J.A. Happ</a></strong> from the Mariners for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=sampso000adr&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adrian Sampson</a></strong>, <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/joakim-soria-acquired-pirates-tigers.html" target="_blank">and</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/soriajo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joakim Soria</a></strong> from the Tigers for infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=jones-011jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">JaCoby Jones</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-dodgers-swap-jose-tabata-michael-morse.html" target="_blank">got</a> first baseman <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morsemi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Morse</a></strong> from the Dodgers for outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tabatjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Tabata</a></strong>, <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-acquire-joe-blanton.html" target="_blank">and</a> veteran pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blantjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joe Blanton</a></strong> from the Royals for cash. Finally, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">designated</a> relievers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guerrde01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Deolis Guerra</a></strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-designate-vance-worley.html" target="_blank">and</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/worleva01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vance Worley</a></strong> for assignment; <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-72915.html" target="_blank">outrighted</a> infielders <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morelbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brent Morel</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lombast02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Steve Lombardozzi</a></strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-72615.html" target="_blank">and</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/selleju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Justin Sellers</a></strong>; and traded minor league pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=aquino001jay&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jayson Aquino</a></strong> to the Indians for cash considerations.</li>
<li>The <strong>Cubs </strong><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-to-acquire-dan-haren.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> veteran starter <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harenda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Haren</a></strong> from the Marlins for shortstop <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=soto--001ell&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Elliot Soto</a></strong> and righty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=pineyr000iva&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ivan Pineyro</a></strong>. They also<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-acquire-tommy-hunter-for-junior-lake.html" target="_blank">sent</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lakeju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Junior Lake</a></strong> to the Orioles for reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hunteto02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tommy Hunter</a></strong>. In more minor moves, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">designated</a> pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rowenbe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Rowen</a></strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-designate-mike-baxter.html" target="_blank">and</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baxtemi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Baxter</a></strong> for assignment, and they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-designate-edwin-jackson-activate-rafael-soriano.html" target="_blank">released</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jacksed01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Edwin Jackson</a></strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=cIVY_JEgCv8:I4ZMIRHOQjc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>16http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/trade-deadline-roundup-nl-central.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565652015-08-01T02:22:44Z2015-08-01T01:45:46ZContinue reading →]]><p>Here&#8217;s what teams from the NL East did in the days leading to this afternoon&#8217;s trade deadline.</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Phillies </strong>were, unsurprisingly, at the center of the action, <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cole-hamels-rangers-trade-close.html" target="_blank">shipping</a> ace <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cole Hamels</a></strong> to Texas (along with reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/diekmja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Diekman</a></strong> and cash) in exchange for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrima01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Harrison</a></strong>, top catching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=alfaro001jor&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jorge Alfaro</a></strong>, pitching prospects <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=thomps000jak,thomps003jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Thompson</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=asher-001ale&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alec Asher</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=eickho001jer&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jerad Eickhoff</a></strong>, and outfield prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=willia005nic" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Williams</a></strong>. In another significant move, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/nationals-nearing-deal-to-acquire-jonathan-papelbon.html" target="_blank">sent</a> closer <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/papeljo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jonathan Papelbon</a></strong> and cash to Washington in exchange for pitching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=pivett000nic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Pivetta</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/blue-jays-to-acquire-ben-revere.html" target="_blank">sent</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reverbe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Revere</a></strong> and cash to the Blue Jays for pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=corder000jim&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jimmy Cordero</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tirado000alb&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alberto Tirado</a></strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Nationals</strong> were, of course, the team on the other end of the Papelbon deal, for which they agreed to exercise Papelbon&#8217;s 2016 option after it was reduced from $13MM to $11MM, some of that deferred. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">outrighted</a> catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/butleda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Butler</a></strong>.</li>
<li>Despite <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/carlos-gomez-zack-wheeler-trade.html" target="_blank">not completing a reported deal</a> for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Gomez</a></strong>, the <strong>Mets </strong>made plenty of noise at the deadline, <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/tigers-close-to-moving-cespedes-white-sox-involved-but-not-favorite.html" target="_blank">acquiring</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong> from the Tigers for pitching prospects <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=fulmer002mic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Fulmer</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cessa-001lui&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Cessa</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mets-agree-to-acquire-tyler-clippard.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clippty01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tyler Clippard</a></strong> and cash from the Athletics for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=meisne000cas&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Casey Meisner</a></strong>. Last week, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mets-in-talks-with-braves-for-juan-uribe-kelly-johnson.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> infielders <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uribeju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Juan Uribe</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnske05.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kelly Johnson</a></strong>, plus cash, from the Braves for pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=gant--000joh&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">John Gant</a></strong> and Rob Whalen, and they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/michael-conforto-promoted-mets.html" target="_blank">promoted</a> top prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/confomi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Conforto</a></strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Braves </strong>were on the other end of the Uribe/Johnson deal. They also were part of a <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/dodgers-nearing-deal-to-acquire-mat-latos-michael-morse.html" target="_blank">massive 13-player trade</a> with the Dodgers and Marlins in which they acquired infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=oliver000hec&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hector Olivera</a></strong>, lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodrist02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Paco Rodriguez</a></strong> and pitching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=bird--002zac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Zachary Bird</a></strong> for top infield prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=peraza004jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Peraza</a></strong>, along with pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodal02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alex Wood</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsji04.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jim Johnson</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/avilalu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Avilan</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arroybr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bronson Arroyo</a></strong>. The Braves also designated reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carpeda02.shtml" target="_blank">David Carpenter</a></strong> for assignment.</li>
<li>In that aforementioned 13-player trade, the <strong>Marlins </strong>sent <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mat Latos</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morsemi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Morse</a></strong> to the Dodgers in return for pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=guzman000kev&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Guzman</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=brigha000jef&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Brigham</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=araujo002vic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Victor Araujo</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-to-acquire-dan-haren.html" target="_blank">shipped</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harenda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Haren</a></strong> and cash to the Cubs for shortstop <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=soto--001ell&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Elliot Soto</a></strong> and righty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=pineyr000iva&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ivan Pineyro</a></strong>, and they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/rangers-acquire-sam-dyson-from-marlins-for-tomas-telis.html" target="_blank">traded</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dysonsa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sam Dyson</a></strong> to the Rangers for catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/telisto01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tomas Telis</a></strong> and lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ege---000cod&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cody Ege</a></strong>. Last week, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cardinals-steve-cishek-deal-nearing.html" target="_blank">dealt</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cishest01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Steve Cishek</a></strong> to the minors for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=barrac000kyl&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kyle Barraclough</a></strong>. Finally, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/marlins-release-jeff-baker.html" target="_blank">released</a> infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bakerje03.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Baker</a></strong>.</li>
</ul>
<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=m6fGJutxAwA:VMVdEaMzc7o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>5http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/trade-deadline-roundup-nl-east.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565642015-08-01T03:57:15Z2015-08-01T01:01:45ZContinue reading →]]><p>Here&#8217;s how the last few days before the trade deadline went for teams throughout the AL West.</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Rangers </strong><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cole-hamels-rangers-trade-close.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> Phillies ace <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamelco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cole Hamels</a></strong> in a monster eight-player deal, also receiving <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/diekmja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Diekman</a></strong> and cash. In return, the Rangers gave up pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrima01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Harrison</a></strong>, catching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=alfaro001jor&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jorge Alfaro</a></strong>, pitching prospects <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=thomps000jak,thomps003jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Thompson</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=asher-001ale&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alec Asher</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=eickho001jer&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jerad Eickhoff</a></strong>, and outfield prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=willia005nic" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Williams</a></strong>. In a more minor deal, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/rangers-acquire-sam-dyson-from-marlins-for-tomas-telis.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dysonsa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sam Dyson</a></strong> from the Marlins for catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/telisto01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tomas Telis</a></strong> and pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ege---000cod&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Cody Ege</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">claimed</a> catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsobo02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bobby Wilson</a></strong> from the Rays and <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/wandy-rodriguez-designated-rangers.html" target="_blank">designated</a> lefty reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodriwa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wandy Rodriguez</a></strong> for assignment.</li>
<li>The <strong>Athletics </strong>were busy as usual, this time selling in the wake of a disappointing season. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/royals-to-acquire-ben-zobrist.html" target="_blank">got</a> a solid pitching prospect in <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=manaea000sea&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sean Manaea</a></strong>, plus another young pitcher in <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=brookaa01,brooks001aar&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aaron Brooks</a></strong>, when they sent <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zobribe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Zobrist</a></strong> to Kansas City. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mets-agree-to-acquire-tyler-clippard.html" target="_blank">got</a> yet another pitching propsect, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=meisne000cas&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Casey Meisner</a></strong>, from the Mets for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clippty01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tyler Clippard</a></strong>. Last week, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/astros-to-acquire-scott-kazmir.html" target="_blank">received</a> catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=nottin000jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jacob Nottingham</a></strong> and pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mengde000dan&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Daniel Mengden</a></strong> from the Astros in exchange for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kazmisc01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Scott Kazmir</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/red-sox-acquire-ryan-cook.html" target="_blank">traded</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=cookry01,cook--002rya&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ryan Cook</a></strong> to the Red Sox for a player to be named and <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/doubrfe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Felix Doubront</a></strong> from the Blue Jays for cash.</li>
<li>The first-place <strong>Astros </strong>were, of course, the team that received Kazmir. In yet another significant deal, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/carlos-gomez-astros-trade-fiers.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Gomez</a></strong>, starter <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fiersmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mike Fiers</a></strong> and international spending rights from the Brewers for outfielders <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santado01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Domingo Santana</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=philli000bre&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brett Phillips</a></strong> and pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=houser000adr&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adrian Houser</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hader-000jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Hader</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/astros-designate-roberto-hernandez.html" target="_blank">designated</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=hernaro01,carmofa01&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Roberto Hernandez</a></strong> for assignment and <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-72915.html" target="_blank">outrighted</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/preslal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alex Presley</a></strong>. Additionally, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/joe-thatcher-designated-astros.html" target="_blank">designated</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thatcjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joe Thatcher</a></strong>, who became a free agent.</li>
<li>The <strong>Angels </strong>addressed their outfield and DH issues by <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/david-murphy-angels-trade-indians.html" target="_blank">acquiring</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphda07.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Murphy</a></strong> from the Indians (for infield prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=stamet000eri&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric Stamets</a></strong>), <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dejesda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David DeJesus</a></strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/angels-acquire-david-dejesus.html" target="_blank">from</a> the Rays (for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lopez-002edu&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eduar Lopez</a></strong>) <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/angels-acquire-shane-victorino.html" target="_blank">and</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/victosh01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Shane Victorino</a></strong> from the Red Sox (for infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rutlejo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Rutledge</a></strong>). They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/vinnie-pestano-designated-angels.html" target="_blank">designated</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pestavi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vinnie Pestano</a></strong> for assignment and <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/angels-sign-wesley-wright-to-minor-league-deal.html" target="_blank">signed</a> lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wrighwe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wesley Wright</a></strong> to a minor league deal.</li>
<li>The <strong>Mariners </strong><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-acquire-j-a-happ.html" target="_blank">sent</a> lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">J.A. Happ</a></strong> to the Pirates for starting pitching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=sampso000adr&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adrian Sampson</a></strong>, <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mark-lowe-blue-jays-mariners.html" target="_blank">and</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lowema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mark Lowe</a></strong> to the Blue Jays for pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rasmuro01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rob Rasmussen</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=brentz000jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Brentz</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=wells-000nic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Wells</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/dustin-ackley-trade-yankees-mariners.html" target="_blank">shipped</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/ackledu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dustin Ackley</a></strong>, a former No. 2 overall pick, to the Yankees for outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/florera02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ramon Flores</a></strong> and pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirjo02.shtml" target="_blank">Jose Ramirez</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mariners-promote-ketel-marte.html" target="_blank">promoted</a> top prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=marte-000ket&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ketel Marte</a></strong>. Finally, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-72915.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> righty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirjc01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">J.C. Ramirez</a></strong> from the Diamondbacks.</li>
</ul>
<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=jijtY1GYW50:Zil8BNij8jU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>6http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/trade-deadline-roundup-al-west.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565622015-08-01T00:02:32Z2015-08-01T00:02:32ZContinue reading →]]><p>Here&#8217;s a roundup of AL Central activity in the last few days before this afternoon&#8217;s trade deadline.</p>
<ul>
<li>The first-place <strong>Royals</strong> bought heavily at the deadline, pulling off one of the biggest trades of the season when they acquired <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cuetojo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Johnny Cueto</a></strong> from the Reds for lefties <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/finnebr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brandon Finnegan</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lamb--003joh&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">John Lamb</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/royals-to-acquire-johnny-cueto.html" target="_blank">Cody Reed</a></strong>. They followed that up with a <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/royals-to-acquire-ben-zobrist.html" target="_blank">second big move</a>, acquiring infielder/outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zobribe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Zobrist</a></strong> from the A&#8217;s for pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=manaea000sea&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sean Manaea</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=brookaa01,brooks001aar&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Aaron Brooks</a></strong>. The Royals also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-acquire-joe-blanton.html" target="_blank">shipped</a> pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blantjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joe Blanton</a></strong> to the Pirates for cash considerations.</li>
<li>The 50-52 <strong>Tigers</strong>, meanwhile, went the opposite direction, ultimately selling heavily rather than pursuing hopes of a Wild Card berth. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/blue-jays-to-acquire-david-price.html" target="_blank">traded</a> ace <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/priceda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Price</a></strong> to Toronto and got lefties <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/norrida01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Daniel Norris</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=labour000jai&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jairo Labourt</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boydma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Boyd</a></strong> in return, then <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/tigers-close-to-moving-cespedes-white-sox-involved-but-not-favorite.html" target="_blank">sent</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong> to the Mets for a pair of righties, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=fulmer002mic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Fulmer</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cessa-001lui&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Cessa</a></strong>. Along the way, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/joakim-soria-acquired-pirates-tigers.html" target="_blank">shipped</a> closer <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/soriajo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joakim Soria</a></strong> to the Pirates for infield prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=jones-011jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">JaCoby Jones</a></strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Indians</strong> reportedly <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-indians-discussing-carlos-carrasco.html" target="_blank">discussed</a> trading <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carraca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Carrasco</a></strong> with several teams, but didn&#8217;t make a move of that magnitude. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/brandon-moss-trade-cardinals-indians.html" target="_blank">got</a> a good pitching prospect, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=kamins000rob&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rob Kaminsky</a></strong>, from the Cardinals in return for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mossbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brandon Moss</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/david-murphy-angels-trade-indians.html" target="_blank">dealt</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphda07.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Murphy</a></strong> to the Angels for infield prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=stamet000eri&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric Stamets</a></strong>, and they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/padres-to-acquire-marc-rzepczynski-from-indians.html" target="_blank">traded</a> lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rzepcma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marc Rzepczynski</a></strong> to the Padres for outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/almonab01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Abraham Almonte</a></strong>. In a minor move, they also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=aquino001jay&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jayson Aquino</a></strong> from the Pirates for cash considerations.</li>
<li>The <strong>Twins</strong> had a relatively uneventful deadline, with their biggest move being the <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/kevin-jepsen-traded-twins-rays.html" target="_blank">acquisition</a> of reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jepseke01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Jepsen</a></strong> from the Rays for pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hu----002chi&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chih-Wei Hu</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tapia-000ale&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexis Tapia</a></strong>. They&#8217;re also set to <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">designate</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thielca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Caleb Thielbar</a></strong> for assignment.</li>
<li>The <strong>White Sox </strong>had one of the quietest deadlines of any team despite their recent surge, with GM Rick Hahn feeling <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/al-central-notes-cespedes-tigers-white-sox.html" target="_blank">frustrated</a> that they weren&#8217;t able to make a significant move. Ultimately, the only deal they made involving a remotely well known player was <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/conor-gillaspie-angels-tade.html" target="_blank">shipping</a> infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gillaco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Conor Gillaspie</a></strong> to the Angels for cash.</li>
</ul>
<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=8RZCwxM_xBk:y81cOt2kLuE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>11http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/trade-deadline-roundup-al-central.htmlCharlie Wilmothhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565542015-07-31T23:23:17Z2015-07-31T23:23:17ZContinue reading →]]><p>Here&#8217;s a roundup of activity from around the AL East, covering the last few days before this afternoon&#8217;s trade deadline.</p>
<ul>
<li>The win-now <strong>Blue Jays </strong>made by far the biggest splash in the division, making not one but two blockbuster deals. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/blue-jays-to-acquire-troy-tulowitzki.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> star shortstop <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tulowtr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Troy Tulowitzki</a></strong> and reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hawkila01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LaTroy Hawkins</a></strong> from the Rockies for shortstop <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=reyesjo01,reyesjo02,reyes-016jos,reyes-019jos,reyes-021jos&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Reyes</a></strong> and prospects <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hoffma002jef&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Hoffman</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/castrmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Miguel Castro</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tinoco000jes&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jesus Tinoco</a></strong>, <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/blue-jays-to-acquire-david-price.html" target="_blank">then</a> swung a deal with Detroit for ace <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/priceda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Price</a></strong>, giving up top prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/norrida01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Daniel Norris</a></strong> and two other lefties, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=labour000jai&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jairo Labourt</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boydma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Boyd</a></strong>. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/blue-jays-to-acquire-ben-revere.html" target="_blank">got</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reverbe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Revere</a></strong> from the Phillies for pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=corder000jim&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jimmy Cordero</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tirado000alb&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alberto Tirado</a></strong>, <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mark-lowe-blue-jays-mariners.html" target="_blank">and</a> righty reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lowema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mark Lowe</a></strong> from the Mariners for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rasmuro01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rob Rasmussen</a></strong> and minor leaguers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=brentz000jac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jake Brentz</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=wells-000nic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Wells</a></strong>. Finally, they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">traded</a> lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/doubrfe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Felix Doubront</a></strong> to the Athletics for cash.</li>
<li>The <strong>Orioles</strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/orioles-to-acquire-gerardo-parra.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> improved their outfield, getting <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parrage01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gerardo Parra</a></strong> as a rental from the Brewers for pitching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=davies000zac&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Zach Davies</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-acquire-tommy-hunter-for-junior-lake.html" target="_blank">got</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lakeju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Junior Lake</a></strong> from the Cubs for reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hunteto02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tommy Hunter</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/orioles-to-designate-travis-snider.html" target="_blank">designated</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parmech01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Parmelee</a></strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/bud-norris-designated-orioles.html" target="_blank">and</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/norribu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bud Norris</a></strong> for assignment.</li>
<li>The first-place <strong>Yankees</strong> were <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/craig-kimbrel-yankees-trade-astros.html" target="_blank">connected</a> to top relievers like <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kimbrcr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Craig Kimbrel</a></strong> of the Padres, but weren&#8217;t able to swing a trade for bullpen help. Instead, they bolstered their outfield depth by <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/dustin-ackley-trade-yankees-mariners.html" target="_blank">acquiring</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/ackledu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dustin Ackley</a></strong> from the Mariners for outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/florera02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ramon Flores</a></strong> and pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirjo02.shtml" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Ramirez</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/yankees-designate-chris-capuano-for-assignment.html" target="_blank">designated</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/capuach01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Capuano</a></strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/yankees-designate-garrett-jones.html" target="_blank">and</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesga02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Garrett Jones</a></strong> for assignment, later outrighting Capuano. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/yankees-to-promote-luis-severino.html" target="_blank">announced</a> that they would promote top pitching prospect <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=severi001lui,severi000lui&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Severino</a></strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Red Sox </strong>showed at least some interest in big-name arms <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-indians-discussing-carlos-carrasco.html" target="_blank">like</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carraca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Carrasco</a></strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/tyson-ross-red-sox-padres.html" target="_blank">and</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rossty01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tyson Ross</a></strong>, but ultimately didn&#8217;t have a very eventful deadline. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/angels-acquire-shane-victorino.html" target="_blank">traded</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/victosh01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Shane Victorino</a></strong> to the Angels for infielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rutlejo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Rutledge</a></strong>, and they <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/red-sox-acquire-ryan-cook.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=cookry01,cook--002rya&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ryan Cook</a></strong> from the Athletics, They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/red-sox-designate-daniel-nava.html" target="_blank">designated</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/navada01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Daniel Nava</a></strong> <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/jemile-weeks-designated-red-sox.html" target="_blank">and</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weeksje01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jemile Weeks</a></strong> for assignment and <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/jean-machi-red-sox-claim.html" target="_blank">claimed</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/machije01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jean Machi</a></strong> from the Giants.</li>
<li>The 51-52 <strong>Rays </strong>made moves to deal a couple of veterans, although they don&#8217;t look massively different than they did last week. They <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/kevin-jepsen-traded-twins-rays.html" target="_blank">traded</a> reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jepseke01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Jepsen</a></strong> to the Twins for pitchers <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hu----002chi" target="_blank">Chih-Wei Hu</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tapia-000ale&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Alexis Tapia</a></strong>, and also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/angels-acquire-david-dejesus.html" target="_blank">dealt</a> outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dejesda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David DeJesus</a></strong> to the Angels for pitcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lopez-002edu&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eduar Lopez</a></strong>. They also <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.html" target="_blank">lost</a> catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsobo02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bobby Wilson</a></strong> via a waiver claim by the Rangers.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=teHz1bmEuXw:VbFZm1rc9CI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>10http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/trade-deadline-roundup-al-east.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565592015-07-31T23:03:48Z2015-07-31T23:03:48ZContinue reading →]]><p>A glance at the NL Central..</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Reds</strong> GM Walt Jocketty told reporters that there was a lot of interest in <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chapmar01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Aroldis Chapman</a></strong> and <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bruceja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Jay Bruce</a></strong>, but the Reds were more focused on the free-agents-to-be, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer <a href="https://twitter.com/johnfayman/status/627230062283198464" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li>Adam McCalvy of MLB.com (on <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/627248808104194048" target="_blank">Twitter</a>) hears that the <strong>Brewers</strong> and <strong>Cardinals</strong> were never close on <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lindad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Adam Lind</a></strong>. It would have taken a big haul for Milwaukee to trade Lind within the division since he also has a 2016 option.</li>
<li>Jocketty referred to what the <strong>Reds</strong> are doing as a &#8220;<em>reboot</em>,&#8221; but not a full rebuild, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com <a href="https://twitter.com/m_sheldon/status/627226133935882241" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li>Jocketty told reporters, including Fay (on <a href="https://twitter.com/johnfayman/status/627231068597420032" target="_blank">Twitter</a>), that the <strong>Reds</strong> will try infielder <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/duvalad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Adam Duvall</a></strong> in leftfield at Triple-A Louisville.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=REPioJ6D3dM:2p7f3mmWOak:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>11http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/nl-central-notes-chapman-reds-brewers.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565562015-07-31T22:54:32Z2015-07-31T22:54:32ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Mariners (on <a href="https://twitter.com/MarinersPR/status/627198365571371008" target="_blank">Twitter</a>) announced that they have promoted infielder <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=marte-000ket&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Ketel Marte</a></strong> to the majors. Marte, 21, was rated No. 50 on <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/midseason-top-50-prospects2015/" target="_blank">Baseball America&#8217;s midseason top 50 prospects</a> list.</p>
<p>Marte signed for just $100K in the Mariners&#8217; ~$6MM 2010 int&#8217;l class, but he has proven to be that group&#8217;s best prospect, <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/players/cards/92305" target="_blank">as BA writes</a>. Marte&#8217;s arm limits him at shortstop and he doesn&#8217;t boast a ton of power, but scouts project that he can become an above-average defender at second base.</p>
<p>The youngster has spent the bulk of the 2015 season at Triple-A Tacoma. In 287 plate appearances, Marte has hit .314/.359/.410 with three homers.</p>
<div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?a=rHdeqOa1s7A:O6pwe2DNLnA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MlbTradeRumors?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a>
</div>2http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mariners-promote-ketel-marte.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565552015-07-31T22:42:37Z2015-07-31T22:42:37ZContinue reading →]]><p>Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski and Mets GM Sandy Alderson got to know each other a little bit better on Friday.</p>
<p>“<em>We must have had at least 20 conversations with Sandy Alderson today</em>,&#8221; the Tigers GM said, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com (on <a href="https://twitter.com/beckjason/status/627219692193718273" target="_blank">Twitter</a>).</p>
<p>All of that talking wasn&#8217;t for nothing as the two sides agreed to a deal sending Cespedes to New York this afternoon. The Mets didn&#8217;t want to part with <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=fulmer002mic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Michael Fulmer</a></strong> until today, but they had a change of heart that paved the way for the deal. Here&#8217;s more out of the AL Central..</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Tigers</strong> made the <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong> deal with the Mets with the belief that they&#8217;ll be reunited again this winter, Bob Nightengale of USA Today <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/status/627222615459958785" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li>Dombrowski said the <strong>Tigers</strong> didn&#8217;t come close to making any other trades, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press <a href="https://twitter.com/anthonyfenech/status/627221130424774656" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li><strong>White Sox</strong> GM Rick Hahn is a little bit frustrated that he couldn&#8217;t make a splash today as he was optimistic something would get done, Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com <a href="https://twitter.com/CSNHayes/status/627223130327678976" target="_blank">tweets</a>. In the end, he says that the cost did not justify the return.</li>
<li>Hahn said the only big change in the <strong>White Sox</strong>&#8216;s strategy was considering short-term rentals, <a href="https://twitter.com/ChiTribKane/status/627227966012018688" target="_blank">Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune</a> tweets. Ultimately, however, he didn&#8217;t want to hurt the club&#8217;s long-term future.</li>
</ul>
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</div>5http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/al-central-notes-cespedes-tigers-white-sox.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565532015-07-31T22:33:20Z2015-07-31T22:33:20ZContinue reading →]]><p>A look at the AL East..</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Orioles</strong> came &#8220;very close&#8221; to acquiring <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reverbe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Ben Revere</a></strong> from the Phillies before the <strong>Blue Jays</strong> swooped in and got him, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com <a href="https://twitter.com/masnRoch/status/627219724594753536" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Orioles</strong> GM Dan Duquette said that designating <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/norribu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Bud Norris</a></strong> for assignment was &#8220;a personal disappointment,&#8221; as Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com <a href="https://twitter.com/Britt_Ghiroli/status/627232791978225664" target="_blank">tweets</a>. Baltimore explored trades with every team they talked to before DFA&#8217;ing him, so they&#8217;re not terribly optimistic now, she adds.</li>
<li>The <strong>Red Sox</strong> didn&#8217;t make big moves today but GM Ben Cherington says he now has a better sense of what Boston could do in the offseason in terms of trades, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteAbe/status/627224523688050688" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Rays</strong> President of Baseball Operations Matthew Silverman says he will continue to explore waiver deals in August, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times <a href="https://twitter.com/TBTimes_Rays/status/627221821163749376" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Red Sox</strong> manager John Farrell says he&#8217;s excited to see what he can get out of the newly acquired <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=cookry01,cook--002rya&#038;utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Ryan Cook</a></strong>, <a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox_mlb/clubhouse_insider/2015/07/red_sox_trade_for_reliever_ryan_cook" target="_blank">Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald</a> writes. &#8220;<em>This is a guy that&#8217;s been a closer in the past</em>,&#8221; Farrell said. &#8220;<em>I know that there&#8217;s been some change of role out in Oakland. As we did with (recently acquired reliever) <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/machije01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Jean Machi</a></strong> to come in and take a look at him, this will be a similar situation</em>.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
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</div>16http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/al-east-notes-revere-orioles-red-sox-jays.htmlJeff Toddhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565202015-07-31T22:53:55Z2015-07-31T22:24:29ZContinue reading →]]><p><strong>5:19pm: </strong>The Orioles have announced that they&#8217;ve actually designated <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parmech01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Parmelee</a></strong>, <em>not</em> Snider, to clear space for Parra. Parmelee, a lefty-hitting outfielder and first baseman, was hitting .216/.255/.433 in 102 plate appearances with the O&#8217;s. The Orioles signed him to a minor league deal last winter, and he hit well in 265 plate appearances for Triple-A Norfolk before being promoted in mid-June. Since then, his good power but low batting average and on-base percentage have been consistent with his performances over parts of four previous seasons with Minnesota.</p>
<p><strong>2:07pm: </strong>The Orioles will designate outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/snidetr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Travis Snider</a></strong> for assignment, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun <a href="https://twitter.com/danconnollysun/status/627212613009702912" target="_blank">tweets</a>. He&#8217;ll lose his roster spot to make way for the just-acquired <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parrage01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gerardo Parra</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Snider, 27, had been hitting .239/.318/.344 in 233 plate appearances since arriving in a trade last winter. He was coming off a good season in a part-time role in Pittsburgh last season, but didn&#8217;t provide enough offense in Baltimore, particularly given that he&#8217;s purely a corner outfielder. The hot-hitting Parra, who also bats lefty, made Snider mostly superfluous. He&#8217;s making $2.1MM in his second season of arbitration eligibility, and the Orioles will be responsible for most or all of that amount unless he&#8217;s claimed.</p>
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</div>16http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/orioles-to-designate-travis-snider.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565512015-07-31T22:23:34Z2015-07-31T22:23:34ZContinue reading →]]><p>The latest post-deadline news out of Queens..</p>
<ul>
<li>The Mets also discussed <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Justin Upton</a></strong> before dealing for <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong>, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/627241353441886208" target="_blank">Twitter</a>). The Mets preferred Cespedes in part because of his defense and the Padres also pulled back near the end.</li>
<li>A <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bruceja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Jay Bruce</a></strong> deal was on the table for a week before the Reds backed out and decided they wanted more from the Mets, according to Marc Carig of Newsday (<a href="https://twitter.com/MarcCarig/status/627227162932826113" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MarcCarig/status/627227162945392641" target="_blank">links</a>). While talks were serious and the teams exchanged medical info, the deal never got all that close to happening.</li>
<li>Mets GM Sandy Alderson said that he discussed adding another bullpen arm with teams, but he&#8217;s happy with the <strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clippty01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Tyler Clippard</a></strong> addition, Adam Rubin of ESPN.com <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamRubinESPN/status/627223200590635008" target="_blank">tweets</a>. The GM also noted that there are waiver trades in August, which could be an indication of what&#8217;s to come.</li>
<li><strong><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wheelza01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&#038;utm_source=direct&#038;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com">Zack Wheeler</a></strong> called Alderson early this afternoon and expressed his desire to stay and the GM said that made an impact on him, Mike Puma of the New York Post <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPost_Mets/status/627227842762407936" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li>Alderson says the Mets are going for it, but wouldn&#8217;t term it as playoffs-or-bust, Matt Ehalt of The Record <a href="https://twitter.com/MattEhalt/status/627222766559854592" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
</ul>
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</div>9http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/mets-notes-upton-bruce-wheeler.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565442015-07-31T22:23:44Z2015-07-31T21:38:21ZContinue reading →]]><p>Today&#8217;s minor MLB moves..</p>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Rays</strong> announced (on <a href="https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/627183172648763393" target="_blank">Twitter</a>) that catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsobo02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bobby Wilson</a></strong> was claimed off waivers by the <strong>Rangers</strong>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Pirates</strong> designated <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guerrde01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Deolis Guerra</a></strong> for assignment to clear roster a spot for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/soriajo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Joakim Soria</a></strong>, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review <a href="https://twitter.com/BiertempfelTrib/status/627235200968335361" target="_blank">tweets</a>. Guerra gave up two three-run homers to <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/phillbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brandon Phillips</a></strong> yesterday, which probably didn&#8217;t help his job security with the Bucs.</li>
<li>The <strong>A&#8217;s</strong> announced that they have acquired lefty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/doubrfe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Felix Doubront</a></strong> from the <strong>Blue Jays</strong> for cash. Doubront was designated for assignment just days ago to make room for the acquisition of <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tulowtr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Troy Tulowitzki</a></strong>.</li>
<li><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thielca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Caleb Thielbar</a></strong> will be designated for assignment to make room for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jepseke01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Jepsen</a></strong> on the <strong>Twins</strong>&#8216; 40-man roster, according to MLB.com&#8217;s Rhett Bollinger (on <a href="https://twitter.com/RhettBollinger/status/627198703305146368" target="_blank">Twitter</a>).</li>
<li>To make room for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/broxtjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jonathan Broxton</a></strong>, the Cardinals have designated <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hatlema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marcus Hatley</a></strong> for assignment, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com <a href="https://twitter.com/LangoschMLB/status/627222655016550400" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Brewers</strong> announced that they have claimed <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guilmpr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Preston Guilmet</a></strong> off waivers from the <strong>Dodgers</strong>. The well-traveled Guilmet didn’t spend much time with the Dodgers, who selected him off waivers from the Rays on July 10. Guilmet tossed three innings for the club’s Triple-A affiliate prior being designated for assignment. He’s been very good at Triple-A this season, tallying a 1.95 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 32 1/3 innings between Buffalo, Durham and Oklahoma City.</li>
<li>The <strong>Nationals</strong> announced (on <a href="https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/627167526485667840" target="_blank">Twitter</a>) that they have assigned catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/butleda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Butler</a></strong> outright to Triple-A.</li>
<li>The <strong>Indians</strong> announced (on <a href="https://twitter.com/tribeinsider/status/626479715596005376" target="_blank">Twitter</a>) that they have acquired left-hander <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=aquino001jay&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jayson Aquino</a></strong> from the <strong>Pirates</strong> for cash considerations.</li>
<li>The <strong>Pirates</strong> have outrighted <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernago01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gorkys Hernandez</a></strong> to Triple-A, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review <a href="https://twitter.com/BiertempfelTrib/status/627222219194789888" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
<li>The <strong>Cubs</strong> have designated <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rowenbe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben Rowen</a></strong> for assignment, Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNChiCubs/status/627215469565616128" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</li>
</ul>
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</div>2http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73115.htmlZach Linkshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565402015-07-31T21:17:33Z2015-07-31T21:13:40ZContinue reading →]]><p><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=severi000lui,severi001lui&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Severino</a></strong>&#8216;s next start will be in the majors, Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters, including Sweeny Murti of WFAN (on <a href="https://twitter.com/YankeesWFAN/status/627223431424143360" target="_blank">Twitter</a>). Severino&#8217;s name came up in trade rumors in recent days &#8211; unsurprising given his upside &#8211; but the Bombers did not part with him.</p>
<p>While there were no true untouchables in the Yankees’ farm system this summer, Aaron Judge and Luis Severino came &#8220;close&#8221; to earning that label, <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/johnny-cueto-blue-jays-yankees.html" target="_blank">George A. King III of the New York Post</a> recently wrote. Heading into the season, Baseball America ranked Severino as the No. 35 prospect in the country. The right-hander got the bump up to Triple-A this season, pitching to a 1.91 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 11 starts.</p>
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</div>62http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/yankees-to-promote-luis-severino.htmlJeff Toddhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565132015-07-31T22:06:15Z2015-07-31T20:32:48ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Mets have officially acquired outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong> from the Tigers, as Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com first reported <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBBruceLevine/status/627204289035943936" target="_blank">on Twitter</a>. In return, Detroit will get righties <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=fulmer002mic&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Fulmer</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cessa-001lui&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luis Cessa</a></strong> from New York, as Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/627211325949767680" target="_blank">on Twitter</a>. GM Sandy Alderson says the Mets will pay all of the approximately $3.75MM remaining on Cespedes&#8217; 2015 salary, David Lennon of Newsday <a href="https://twitter.com/DPLennon/status/627236113263001600" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2015/07/Cespedes4.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-56539 alignright" style="border: 2px solid black; padding: 3px; margin-left: 10px;" src="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2015/07/Cespedes4-200x300.jpg" alt="Jul 30, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) rounds the bases on right fielder J.D. Martinez ( not pictured) two run double during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports" width="200" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>With the move, New York finally lands the power bat it was rumored to be pursuing for some time in the lead-up to the deadline. New York had already added reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/clippty01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tyler Clippard</a></strong>, third baseman <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uribeju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Juan Uribe</a></strong>, and utilityman <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnske05.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kelly Johnson</a></strong>. After a widely-reported deal for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gomezca01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carlos Gomez</a></strong> fell through, the Mets turned their sights to alternatives and ultimately landed the 29-year-old slugger.</p>
<p>The Mets were said to be going after a controllable piece that was capable of playing center field, such as Gomez, but changed course in adding the free-agent-to-be Cespedes, who has spent most of his time in left. With <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cuddymi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Cuddyer</a></strong> potentially out longer than had been hoped, Cespedes figures to take over there. But the club is also reportedly considering utilizing <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grandcu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Curtis Granderson</a></strong> in center in some situations, as incumbent <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lagarju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Juan Lagares</a></strong> has struggled since signing a significant extension before the season.</p>
<p>Cespedes is highly talented, if sometimes inconsistent, but he&#8217;s been outstanding in 2015. He&#8217;s hitting close to the levels he did in his breakout rookie campaign back in 2012, after two high-power/low-OBP seasons in between, with a .293/.323/.506 slash and 18 home runs through 427 plate appearances. Cespedes is delivering more hard contact, a better line-drive percentage, and more home runs per flyball than he has over any single full season. And Cespedes has increased his output on the defensive side of the ledger as well, drawing strong reviews from defensive metrics.</p>
<p><a href="http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2015?list=det" target="_blank">MLB.com</a> now ranks Fulmer and Cessa the fifth- and ninth-best prospects, respectively, in an improved Tigers farm system. The 22-year-old Fulmer, the 44th overall pick in the 2011 draft, was in the midst of an impressive season at Double-A Binghamton, posting a 1.88 ERA, 8.7 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 86 innings. MLB.com notes that his fastball is regularly in the mid-90s, and that he has a strong slider and a changeup good enough that he could one day be a Major League starter.</p>
<p>Cessa, meanwhile, is a 23-year-old converted infielder who performed well for Binghamton, with a 2.56 ERA, 7.1 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 77 1/3 frames. He struggled after a promotion to hitter-happy Triple-A Las Vegas, but maintained his solid peripherals, striking out 24 batters and walking four despite allowing an unsightly 23 earned runs in 24 1/3 innings there. MLB.com notes that his fastball is generally around 93 MPH, and that he could wind up in the back end of a big-league rotation.</p>
<p>Cespedes now finds himself on his fourth team since last summer. He was dealt from the Athletics to the Red Sox, then to the Tigers over the winter, before landing in New York. It&#8217;s an unlikely series of transactions, all said.</p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.</em></p>
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</div>71http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/tigers-close-to-moving-cespedes-white-sox-involved-but-not-favorite.htmlSteve Adamshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565302015-07-31T21:23:55Z2015-07-31T20:28:55ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Padres and Indians have agreed to a minor swap that will send lefty reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rzepcma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marc Rzepczynski</a></strong> to San Diego for outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/almonab01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Abraham Almonte</a></strong>, <a href="https://twitter.com/keithlaw/status/627213089730097153" target="_blank">tweets</a> ESPN&#8217;s Keith Law.</p>
<p>Rzepczynski, better known as Scrabble, has pitched to a 4.43 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 this season. For his career, the 29 year old (30 later this month) has posted a 3.81 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 across seven seasons. Rzepczynski wasn&#8217;t mentioned much in trade speculation this month but the Padres apparently had their eye on him to bolster their bullpen.</p>
<p>Almonte, 26, has appeared in 31 games for the Padres this season with a rather underwhelming slash line of .204/.271/.259. He has fared much better in 61 games for Triple-A El Paso, however, hitting .275/.361/.414.</p>
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</div>17http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/padres-to-acquire-marc-rzepczynski-from-indians.htmlSteve Adamshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565262015-07-31T21:16:02Z2015-07-31T20:24:24ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Pirates announced that they&#8217;ve acquired left-hander <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">J.A. Happ</a></strong> from the Mariners in exchange for minor league righty <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=sampso000adr&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Adrian Sampson</a></strong>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-acquire-j-a-happ.html/mlb-seattle-mariners-at-oakland-athletics-7"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-56543" style="border: 2px solid gray; padding: 3px; margin-left: 10px;" src="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/files/2015/07/USATSI_8679739-200x300.jpg" alt="J.A. Happ" width="200" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>In picking up Happ, the Pirates have struck a last-minute deal to add a back-of-the-rotation starter to their ranks. The 32-year-old pitched to solid results for much of his first and only season with the Mariners, but he&#8217;s run into trouble as of late, posting an unsightly 8.47 ERA over his past four starts &#8212; a span of just 17 innings. At his best, Happ is a serviceable back-of-the-rotation arm whose greatest problem is a susceptibility to home runs versus right-handed hitters. PNC Park&#8217;s dimensions will help to mitigate that concern, as it&#8217;s ranked as one of the toughest parks in terms of right-handed home run factor in each of the past three full seasons.</p>
<p>On the year, Happ has a 4.64 ERA with 6.8 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and a 42.1 percent ground-ball rate in 108 2/3 innings. Those numbers are more or less in line with the totals he delivered from 2012-14, although they came in the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre as opposed to the pitchers&#8217; paradise that is Safeco Field. (His ERA+ from &#8217;12-&#8217;14 was 89, compared to just 80 this season.) Happ is earning $6.7MM this season and is a free agent this winter, so he&#8217;ll be a short-term pick up that the Pirates can use as rotation insurance down the stretch.</p>
<p>The 23-year-old Sampson ranked as the Pirates&#8217; No. 28 prospect on MLB.com&#8217;s midseason update, where Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo praise the righty&#8217;s sinking fastball and ability to get grounders. The MLB.com duo notes that Sampson has strong command and average stuff across the board, giving him a low ceiling but also placing him close to big league ready. Sampson has started 21 games at Triple-A Indianapolis this season and has a 3.98 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 124 1/3 innings in that time.</p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.</em></p>
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</div>6http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-acquire-j-a-happ.htmlJeff Toddhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565112015-07-31T21:08:14Z2015-07-31T20:21:49ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Rangers have acquired reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dysonsa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sam Dyson</a></strong> from the Marlins in exchange for catcher <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/telisto01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tomas Telis</a></strong> and lefty Cody Ege, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald <a href="https://twitter.com/clarkspencer/status/627211930562883584" target="_blank">tweets</a>.</p>
<p>Dyson, 27, owns a 3.68 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 44 appearances this season. Dyson also had a strong year in 2014, posting a 2.14 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 31 appearances. The Blue Jays added Dyson to the 40-man roster in 2012 when he was called up to the Majors, but he appeared in just two big league games (both out of the bullpen) before being returned to the minor leagues. In the offseason, the club faced a roster crunch and the former fourth round draft pick was claimed off waivers by the Fish. Dyson will now head to his third team, the Rangers.</p>
<p>Telis, who just turned 24 in June, has appeared in just 24 big league games for Texas across the last two seasons. He has spent the bulk of the last two seasons in Triple-A, where he owns a .309/.343/.432 slash line across 447 plate appearances.</p>
<p>Ege, 24, was a 15th round selection of the Rangers two years ago. The Louisville product was promoted to the Double-A level this season, where he has posted a 0.85 ERA with 10.5 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 in 26 appearances out of the bullpen.</p>
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</div>4http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/rangers-acquire-sam-dyson-from-marlins-for-tomas-telis.htmlSteve Adamshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565232015-07-31T21:42:18Z2015-07-31T20:21:09ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Cubs have acquired right-hander <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hunteto02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tommy Hunter</a></strong> from the Orioles, <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/627208620682399744" target="_blank">tweets</a> Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. ESPN&#8217;s Buster Olney <a href="https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/627208453933674496" target="_blank">adds</a> that outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lakeju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Junior Lake</a></strong> will go back to Baltimore in the deal.</p>
<p><strong>[RELATED: <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-to-acquire-dan-haren.html" target="_blank">Cubs Acquire Dan Haren</a>]</strong></p>
<p>Hunter, 29 this month, has a 3.63 ERA, 6.4 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, 0.60 HR/9, and 46.3% groundball rate in 60 2/3 innings for the Orioles this year. Hunter joined the Orioles four years ago along with <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisch02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Davis</a></strong>, in a trade with the Rangers for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/ueharko01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Koji Uehara</a></strong>. Since 2013, he has a 3.05 ERA in 191 2/3 innings out of the Orioles&#8217; bullpen. He&#8217;s earning $4.65MM this year, and will become a free agent after the season. He&#8217;s the lone addition to a Cubs bullpen that includes <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rondohe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hector Rondon</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stroppe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pedro Strop</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/motteja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jason Motte</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grimmju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Justin Grimm</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/soriara01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Rafael Soriano</a></strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/russeja02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">James Russell</a></strong>.</p>
<p>Lake, 25, has struggled in the Majors with a .241/.283/.380 career line. He has played well at Triple-A this year, with a .315/.404/.472 line in 231 plate appearances. Prior to the 2013 season, back when Lake was still an infield prospect, Baseball America said he had &#8220;tantalizing tools and inconsistent performance.&#8221; If Lake does become a useful big leaguer, he&#8217;ll be a late bloomer. He&#8217;s the second outfielder the Orioles acquired today, as they made a bigger splash earlier <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/orioles-to-acquire-gerardo-parra.html" target="_blank">by acquiring</a> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parrage01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gerardo Parra</a></strong> from the Brewers.</p>
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</div>19http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/cubs-acquire-tommy-hunter-for-junior-lake.htmlTim Dierkeshttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565222015-07-31T20:33:39Z2015-07-31T20:19:42ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Red Sox acquired reliever <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=cookry01,cook--002rya&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ryan Cook</a></strong> from the Athletics, tweets <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/627210718492889088" target="_blank">Jon Heyman of CBS Sports</a>. The A&#8217;s will receive a player to be named later, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/627211272157851649" target="_blank">Alex Speier of WEEI</a>.</p>
<p>Cook, 28, has pitched in the Majors for parts of five seasons with solid overall numbers. Acquired by the A&#8217;s from the D&#8217;Backs in the December 2011 <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cahiltr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trevor Cahill</a></strong> trade, Cook made the All-Star team in 2012 and saved 14 games. However, he missed time with a shoulder injury and forearm strain last year, and was optioned to Triple-A out of spring training. That&#8217;s where he&#8217;s spent most of this season, compiling a 4.05 ERA in 33 1/3 innings. The Red Sox will potentially control Cook through 2018 as an arbitration eligible player.</p>
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</div>8http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/red-sox-acquire-ryan-cook.htmlJeff Toddhttp://www.mlbtraderumors.com/?p=565122015-07-31T22:58:45Z2015-07-31T20:18:39ZContinue reading →]]><p>The Pirates have announced that they&#8217;ve acquired <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morsemi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Morse</a></strong> and cash from the Dodgers for outfielder <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tabatjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jose Tabata</a></strong>. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com was the first to <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/627210829159641088" target="_blank">tweet</a> that a deal had been struck.</p>
<p>The Dodgers recently <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/dodgers-nearing-deal-to-acquire-mat-latos-michael-morse.html" target="_blank">acquired</a> Morse in the 13-player <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/latosma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mat Latos</a></strong> / <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=oliver000hec&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hector Olivera</a></strong> deal, although Morse was seemingly included in the deal mostly so that the Marlins could shed his salary. He&#8217;s making $7MM this year and $8MM next, and is in the midst of a bad season, batting .213/.276/.313, a very poor line, particularly given that he provides little defensive value. Nonetheless, he&#8217;s right-handed and hit well in 2014, and the Pirates have struggled to find right-handed hitting depth, given injuries to <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harrijo05.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Harrison</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mercejo03.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jordy Mercer</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hartco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Corey Hart</a></strong>, along with Hart&#8217;s own poor performance. The Pirates also might hope that Morse can help the left-handed <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=alvarpe01,alvare002ped&amp;utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-www.mlbtraderumors.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pedro Alvarez</a></strong> at first base.</p>
<p>Tabata&#8217;s is surely headed the Dodgers&#8217; way largely to offset Morse&#8217;s salary. The Pirates had already repeatedly outrighted the disappointing Tabata, who has about $6.75MM remaining on the long-term deal he signed with the Bucs in 2011. He&#8217;s spent most of the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he&#8217;s batted .291/.364/.345 in 165 plate appearances. Nonetheless, he&#8217;s young enough (with a listed age of 26) and has enough on-base ability that he might be able to help someone in a bench role. He will not need to be added to the Dodgers&#8217; 40-man roster.</p>
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</div>24http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/pirates-dodgers-swap-jose-tabata-michael-morse.html